Wildlife team stranded by storm

The team is living in an 18th century former lighthouse cottage

Wildlife experts stranded by storms on a remote island off the Northumberland coast have been reduced to eating seaweed to eke out dwindling supplies.

They were counting seal pups on the Farne Islands, when bad weather struck, leaving them stuck for two weeks.

The five men, who are living in a cottage without mains electricity are starting to run out of food and water.

They are from Northumberland, from Barnet, north London, Norfolk, Melrose, and Grimsby.

Head warden David Steel, from Corbridge, Northumberland also said that "cabin fever" was beginning to kick in.

He said force 10 gales and "massive" waves were preventing him and his four-man team reaching the mainland to replenish supplies.

Last night we cooked seaweed to eat, we are struggling so much David Steel

Mr Steel normally lives on the Farne Islands between March and December as part of his National Trust duties.

The other four National Trust employees are Adam Scott, from Barnet, north London, Jason Moss, from Norfolk, Davy Still, from Melrose, and Adam Hick, from Grimsby.

Mr Steel said: "There are five of us stuck in this small cottage on the island at the moment and it would be fair to say we are getting cabin fever.

"It is hard enough trying to stand up outside and to try and attempt to reach the mainland would be foolhardy.

"If things start to get any worse then we will have to call the coastguard and be airlifted off, but we want to avoid that if we can."

Cooked seaweed

He added: "All the luxuries have gone and we have no bread, butter, margarine or sugar, and we are down to UHT milk.

"Last night we cooked seaweed to eat, we are struggling so much.

"I have been working on these islands for nine years and this is one of the worst spells of weather I can remember."

There is also concern over the welfare of the seal colony.

Mr Steel said: "The pups will have to stay out of the sea for the first three weeks after they are born, and I'm sure some will have been washed out to sea and have perished.

"We won't know what damage has been done until the weather improves."