THE man found face down in the River Foss at the weekend had fallen in twice before, police have revealed.

Ian Hutchinson, who was in his 50s, was unmarried and lived alone at Alder Way, New Earswick. He fell in the river after a day of heavy drinking.

He was discovered by a walker underneath the bridge in Link Road, only metres from his home.

That stretch of river has a footpath running alongside it which Mr Hutchinson is known to have used regularly as a short-cut home.

Inspector Andy Everitt, of York Police, said he had died from drowning and had large quantities of alcohol in his body.

"He had been drinking in the Clarence Street Working Men's Club, then the Castle Howard Ox before returning to the Working Men's Club," he told the Evening Press.

"We are not treating the death as suspicious, but would want to warn people about the dangers of drink at this time of year.

"Mr Hutchinson has fallen in the Foss twice before, we have learned, and this time, tragically, died as a result.

"People should be careful walking close to the river while under the influence of alcohol. Hopefully, his unfortunate death will serve as a warning to others and may prevent this happening again."

He said there had been an excellent response from members of the public after appeals for information in the Evening Press, and police had pieced together his movements on the day of his death.

Updated: 14:33 Wednesday, December 12, 2001