Four rescued from tidal causeway

The causeway is flooded twice a day

Four people, including two young children, have been rescued from a tidal causeway in Northumberland after being cut off by the sea.

The group, thought to be two girls aged about four and their grandparents, were forced to abandon their car on the Holy Island crossing.

An RNLI spokesman said they attempted to use the causeway outside the safe crossing times on Tuesday afternoon.

They alerted the coastguard after reaching the nearby refuge box.

The Seahouses Inshore Lifeboat, which was undergoing maintenance, had to be speedily made ready for service.

AN RNLI spokesman said: "Despite being slightly delayed in launching, it was quickly on scene, and the four casualties were safely rescued from the refuge box, and landed on the mainland, where local police were waiting.

"None required any medical assistance."

The crew were scrambled at about 1600 BST, more than an hour after the last safe crossing time.

Several rescues a year are carried out at the causeway, which is submerged twice daily by the tide.

Visitors unfamiliar with the area are most often caught out, despite prominent warning signs which display the proper times to use the road.