Floating road fence prompts RNLI call-out

The Hartlepool crew recovered the fence after it had been mistaken for a body

A road barrier floating in the sea prompted an RNLI call-out after being mistaken for a body.

The Hartlepool crew was called at about 13:30 GMT on Sunday by anglers who saw something fishy floating off the Heugh Breakwater.

Four crew members were sent out in the inshore lifeboat Solihull and found the "body" was actually a plastic road barrier attached to a black plastic sheet.

Helm Darren Killick said the object did look "rather suspicious" and said the anglers were right to call for help.

Mr Killick said they had been called to deal with "many random items" in the sea, including a portable toilet, tree trunks, kayaks and a 6ft (1.8m) inflatable crocodile.

"The object floating in the water did look rather suspicious from a distance but obviously on closer inspection it turned out to be a road barrier," Mr Killick said.

"If you do see someone in trouble in the water call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, this simple action might just help save a life."

While returning to the Ferry Road boathouse, the lifeboat assisted a 26ft (8m) yacht with three people back to its berth at the Headland.