FRIENDS and family of Megan Roberts have gathered at the River Ouse to mark what would have been her 21st birthday.

Megan, who was a student at York St John University, disappeared on a night out with friends last January, and her body was found in the Ouse almost six weeks later.

Her mother Jackie, who marked her 50th birthday last month, previously told The Press she had been planning to take Megan on holiday to celebrate their shared milestones in the days leading up to her disappearance, but hoped gathering with her friends would help mark Megan’s birthday in a positive way. She said: “It’s an important day for her family and friends of myself and Megan, who would have been 21, and it’s important for me to celebrate it with people who loved her and we all want to remember Megan.

“We are all going out for a meal and at some point we will be releasing balloons and that meal will be filled with reminiscences and sharing funny stories about Megs.

“It’s going to be emotional, but it will be a nice day because we are all remembering Meg which is important.”

Megan’s death was the first of four in the city’s rivers in the first six months of this year.

It was followed by 22-year-old musician Ben Clarkson, 18-year-old soldier Tyler Pearson, and 41-year-old Doctor Mandeep Ahluwalia.

Their deaths led to Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan holding a river safety summit earlier this year.

An update on the results of that meeting will take place on Friday, with the details of a report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents expected to be made public.

New videos featuring Jackie and the father of Tyler Pearson, and other schemes to promote safety in the city are also expected to be detailed.

Jackie said she was eager to see the results of the ROSPA report, and hoped the plans would help prevent future tragedies.