Tyne Tees Tyne News

A record number of cruise ships are expected to berth in the region this year. The Port of Tyne is making final preparations to welcome the first ship, the MSC Lirica.

This cruise ship will have nearly 2,000 tourists on board, they'll spend the day exploring the North East. 37 ships are expected in total.

• UK
• Tourism
• cruise

Shortly after 19:30 on Wednesday 28th March HM Coastguard alerted rescue teams along with Cullercoats RNLI Inshore Lifeboat after receiving a 999 call from the concerned friend of a man who was on the River Tyne on an inflatable kayak and had not been seen for over an hour.

The man, who was understood to be using the kayak for the first time, had been seen near the River mouth by his friend, who was also on a kayak, The man's friend had then returned to shore and lost sight of the man prompting the call to the emergency services.

The Brigade members quickly located the missing man who described as "a little cold". The man was then reunited with his friends and given safety advice by Brigade members who said he had "no safety equipment whatsoever onboard his kayak and was not wearing suitable clothing for his adventure".

• UK
• RNLI
• tyne

Three ambulances, three police cars and two fire engines have been called to the River Tyne outside the Law Courts at Newcastle's Quayside following reports of a person in the river.

• UK
• court
• river