Teenagers have been warned of the deadly consequences of removing lifebuoys from the coast in North Tyneside.
Police and the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB) were called to the Cullercoats area just before 8pm on Saturday after a group of teens were seen with a lifebuoy, or life ring.
The emergency teams went to retrieve the buoy, which can be thrown to people in distress in the water, and put it back in its place.
HM Coastguard paged the Brigade after receiving a report that a lifebuoy had removed from its stand at Cullercoats Bay and was being used inappropriately by a group of teenagers.
When four members of the Brigade arrived on the scene within five minutes of the call, they quickly found and retrieved the buoy and returned it to its correct location.
The team spoke with a number of children, who all said the group that had been misusing the buoy had left the area shortly before the Brigade arrived.
The Brigade was then stood down.
A spokesperson for the TVLB said: "This is very dangerous behaviour as these buoys are an essential part of lifesaving near water - if you see anyone playing around with a buoy then please report it to the police so that appropriate action can be taken."
