DON'T drink and freeze is the message to New Year's Eve revellers as temperatures plunge.

Party-goers are being urged to wrap up warm tonight as they celebrate the last big party of the year.

Thermometer readings were so low in York today that even parts of the River Foss froze over.

The combination of 36-hour pub openings and the freezing temperatures could spell trouble on the streets as alcohol-fuelled revellers risk serious harm.

"We want people to enjoy themselves tonight," said North Yorkshire police spokesman Ron Johnson.

"But we also want them and their families to enjoy themselves tomorrow. What seems like a really good idea when you have had a few drinks may not be so.

"We have had enough tragedies involving water in North Yorkshire and would urge people to keep away from rivers.

"If people have been drinking they should not drive home, but if they are walking we would warn them to make sure they are sufficiently wrapped up.

"The combination of alcohol and the cold is a dangerous one."

Minimum temperatures across the county tonight will fall to between -4C and -6C.

Although thousands are expected at the Minster, revellers will also be packing into pubs, clubs and bars across the county to take advantage of 36-hour drinking.

Licensing hours have been deregulated for the night, with the option of remaining all night available to licensees.

But cola, lemonade and soda water will be offered for "nowt" at O' Neill's, Edward's and It's A Scream pubs across York.

A spokesman for PA WeatherCentre said: "It's going to be frosty everywhere. Tomorrow night the frost will become a bit patchier with temperatures rising above freezing in some parts.

"We are certainly over the worst of it. The snow is on its way out and it looks as though it's going to get warmer over the next few days."

Today, Scotland was expected to continue to bear the brunt of the severe conditions, with snow showers expected in the north and western parts throughout the day.

Overnight temperatures fell to minus 9C in Altnaharra in Scotland's northern tip.

The severe weather brought tragedy when a 19-year-old died after slipping through the ice on a frozen reservoir.

The man's body was recovered from Harlaw Reservoir in Balerno, near Edinburgh, last night.

The victim, from Sighthill in Edinburgh who has not been named, was with a group of other men who were throwing stones on to frozen water yesterday afternoon when he went on to the ice.

Updated: 10:06 Monday, December 31, 2001