Rescue operation on South Tyneside cliffs

The Coastguard, Tynemouth RNLI Lifeboat Station, South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade and emergency services were called to an incident at Frenchman's Bay at around 4.40pm today.

A man had fallen and landed on rocks on the bottom and is believed to have a suffered a broken leg.

Adrian Don from Tynemouth RNLI Lifeboat Station said: "He'd taken quite a tumble but wasn't in the water. We launched the inshore lifeboat which landed on the beach and a member of the North East ambulance service assessed him on the rocks.

"We hope he makes a full recovery."

Eye witness Wayne Nellist, of Horsley Hill, said: "I was on the bus when I say the fire engines go past. When I got home I could see all the emergency services there. I spoke to someone on site and they said it was a man who had fallen from the cliff."

The Coastguard confirmed they were called at 4.40pm and were on site for around an hour and half.

A spokeswoman said: "We don't know the circumstances of why the man was there. But he's believed to have minor injuries and is on his way to hospital."