Children rescued from cliffs

Eight children were rescued after becoming trapped at the foot of cliffs in east Cleveland.

The incident happened at Loftus Bank on Sunday night when fading light left them stuck on a cliff ledge.

Fire crews from Loftus, Skelton and Coulby Newham used ropes to rescue the children.

Mike Picknett, from Cleveland Fire Brigade, said the youngsters were all recovered safely.

Steep bank

He said: "When we arrived the fire crews made their way down to the bottom with the assistance of some locals to show us where they thought the kids might be.

"Basically, they had got themselves into a position where once the light had gone and it was dark, they were unable to get themselves back up to the road at the top.

"The kids were quite happy to see the firemen and it gave them confidence to get themselves down off the ledge.

"We walked them along the beck and then 30 feet up a very steep, muddy bank."