Detectives are investigating 30 reports of students being raped since the start of term.

Shocking figures show the number of reported sex attacks on people studying in the region has doubled since last year.

A total of 30 rapes on students aged between 18 and 24 were reported to police in Greater Manchester in August, September and October.

That’s compared to 15 in the same period in 2013.

And GMP chiefs have now teamed up with university and Student Union bosses to launch a hard-hitting campaign urging young men not to 'take advantage' of drunk girls.

The 30 cases include attacks by strangers such as that on a 19-year-old girl who was dragged into an alleyway and raped in a harrowing attack in Manchester’s student heartland, Fallowfield, late last month.

However police claim that such incidents are rare with most rape victims knowing their attacker in some way.

They say many reported incidents have occurred after drunken liaisons between students on nights out.

A powerful poster, which will be put up at university buildings and halls of residences as well as clubs and bars, warns students that “Drinking is not a crime, Rape is.”

The poster, which shows a group of girls laughing and joking in a bar, says: “It doesn’t matter what she’s wearing, how much she’s had to drink or whether you’ve kissed....sex without consent is rape.

“If she’s too drunk too consent then the best thing for all involved is to assume it has not been given.”

Detective Inspector Damian Simpson from GMP’s Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: “Unfortunately we’ve dealt with many an incident whereby two young people have met on an alcohol-fuelled night out, one thing has led to another and the next morning we’re arresting somebody for rape.

“Rape ruins lives for both the victim and perpetrator and you have my absolute word that we will take each report seriously and are committed to bringing offenders to justice, whatever the circumstances may be.”

On the figures, DI Simpson told the M.E.N: “It is alarming when you first look at it. But we are now getting incidents reported which may not have been in the past.

“Manchester has a massive night-time economy and people should be able to go out and let their hair down.

“What we are trying to do is get the message out their to potential offenders about consent. If we can reduce offending even by a small amount I will consider that a success.”

Jess Lishak, women’s officer at the University of Manchester Students’ Union, backed the campaign. She said: “I think this marks a really important change in the narratives around rape in our community.”