A fishing boat which ran aground heading out of the Tyne has had to wait for high tide to be rescued.
The Tynemouth RNLI lifeboats were launched early on Friday after a fishing vessel ran aground on the Black Middens, hazardous rocks inside the Tyne harbour.
The skipper of the 20m, 163-tonne vessel radioed for assistance after experiencing a gearbox failure while sailing out of the harbour, leaving him unable to avoid the rocks.
The Coastguard requested the launch of the RNLI lifeboats at 5.20am and they sped to the scene which was just quarter of a mile from the lifeboat station.
Once on scene, the volunteer lifeboat crew members ensured the crew of the stranded fishing vessel were uninjured and in no immediate danger before the crew of the all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland attached their tow rope to the trawler.
Several attempts were made to pull the vessel from the rocks but the tide was falling and it proved impossible to free it.
After consulting with the skipper of the fishing vessel, it was decided to leave the boat where it was until the next high tide when another attempt will be made to refloat it and tow it to safety.
The fishermen were in no danger and happy to remain on board, and the lifeboat crews stood by for an hour to ensure the vessel was stable and not going to roll over as the tide fell. Members of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade also kept watch from shore.
The lifeboats then returned to station with the intention of relaunching later in the day to refloat the vessel.
Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI, said: "Since the Tyne became a major harbour many vessels have been wrecked and lives lost on the notorious Black Midden rocks which are the main reason that lifeboats were first established on the Tyne way back in 1790.
"Thankfully no one came to any harm in this incident and our volunteer crew members will return to use their skills to get the casualty vessel refloated and her crew returned to safety."
