Local award for cliff rescue team

A Teesside girl who became trapped on a crumbling cliff ledge has nominated her "guardian angel" rescuers for an award.

Paul Waugh, from the Skinningrove Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team, climbed down to Faye Harrison so she could be winched to safety at Saltburn-on-Sea.

The 13-year-old had became stuck while climbing up to get help for three friends stranded lower down the cliffs.

Mr Waugh and team members Gordon Hogg and Eric Lorains are regional winners of the Vodafone Life Savers Award.

They will now go forward to the national final.

The winner will receive the award from the prime minister at a reception in Downing Street in November.

Cold and frightened

A major rescue operation took place in January after the four schoolgirls were stranded during a walk on a cliff path.

Faye ended up clinging to tufts of grass on a small crumbling ledge, above a 200 ft (60.9m) drop onto jagged rocks.

The Skinningrove Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team arrived at the scene and Mr Waugh climbed down to the cold and frightened teenager.

He held onto her until the rescue helicopter dropped a rope and winched the teenager and her friends to safety.

Faye nominated Mr Waugh for a Vodafone Lifesaver Award, calling him "her real-life guardian angel".

Julien Cozens, from Vodafone UK, said: "Modesty is a very British trait and anyone who has shown extreme courage should be recognised.

"We want to make sure that acts of bravery, such as Paul Waugh, Gordon Hogg and Eric Lorains, do not go unnoticed, and we wish them the best of luck in the next round."