The county's search and rescue charity is launching night-time river patrols in a bid to prevent deaths by drowning.

It comes after three young men - Ben Savage, Pat Lamb and Kieron Knowlden - died in recent years after falling into water after enjoying a night out.

It is coming up to the first anniversary of Mr Savage's death and his family have given their backing to the new campaign, called Safe and Dry.

Scroll down for audio and video

Kent Search and Rescue (KSAR) hopes the initiative, the first of its kind in Kent, will stop further tragedies.

It says Christmas is a key time for people to get into danger as many enjoy more nights out, sometimes in unfamiliar places during the party season.

Teams will be out on the River Medway in Maidstone and Rochester on key dates across December, supported by Kent Police.

Rescue boats will be on the water backed up with trained teams on the river banks between 11pm and 3am on key nights, including Fridays and Saturdays, December 8, 9, 15 and 16.

They will help anyone in difficulty, but the aim is to raise awareness and try and prevent incidents in the first place.

The charity says simple steps to keep safe include revellers not taking a route home near a river and not walking home alone.

Mr Savage was reported missing in the early hours of December 6 after a night out in Chatham. The 18-year-old was last seen near Sun Pier and KSAR was instrumental in searches to try and find him.

Medway Coastguard and Sheerness RNLI also played a large role.

Tragically his body was discovered in the river in February.

Video: Ben Savage's great-aunt Rita Hasemore

Speaking at today's campaign launch, Rita Hasemore, Mr Savage's great-aunt, said: "We're still in a stage of grieving.

"What we want to do, along with this campaign, is to raise the awareness so that no other family has to go through what we went through, not just this December.

"We want this campaign to keep running so that this doesn't happen to another family. It's devastating.

"This can be any family going through what we're going through. And we want to stop it. We all have got to work together to stop it."

Pat Lamb, 28, from Greenhithe, went missing after a night out in Maidstone, in the run-up to Christmas 2014. After several river searches, the news his family dreaded came in January 2015.

Kieron Knowlden, 25, from Tonbridge, died in March 2014 when he fell into the river after a night out.

In 2009, teenager Sonny Pataria drowned after falling into the River Medway in Chatham.

Stewart Baird, KSAR search manager said: "Too frequently we are called out to search for young adults who get themselves into difficulty after a night out.

"Often these incidents result in a needless death. Our message is don't rely on us being there for you - avoid a route home taking you close to water and never leave your friends in a vulnerable state."

New research shows half of all deaths involving young adults drowning happen between December-February.

Assistant Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: "Quite apart from the fact the weather can sometimes be inclement and the fact that it's dark, obviously more people do tend to drink more at this time of year and be out celebrating Christmas and New Year.

"At a time when people drink more alcohol, they can wander off, wander near to water, and they may fall into the water. With the temperature of the water and the alcohol in their body, the outcome sometimes isn't very good."

The Safe and Dry campaign will be promoted through pubs, clubs and social media, plus 40,000 posters and beer mats warning of these dangers will be given out to venues near rivers.

It launched today in Tonbridge and is supported by Kent Police, Medway Council, Kent County Council and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

A grant has come from Maidstone area county councillors for the new scheme which can be searched on Twitter @SAFE_AND_DRY