Flare 'emergency' was part of gender reveal party

The life brigade was called out to reports of a red flare on Saturday evening

An emergency call-out prompted by a red flare being spotted above the mouth of the River Tyne turned out to be a pyrotechnic that had been let off at a "gender reveal" party.

Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB) was called to check on the welfare of those on board a boat from which the flare had been fired late on Saturday.

When the brigade arrived, they learned that the flare had actually been pink in colour, and the boat's crew had been helping an expectant couple reveal the gender of their baby.

A spokesperson for the brigade recommended avoiding using flares near the coast and said the boat's skipper had been "very apologetic".

The boat had appeared to be circling before the flare was let off, the spokesperson said.

It eventually headed back upriver towards the Royal Quays Mariana in North Shields, where the TVLB located the boat and spoke to its captain.

A spokesperson said the shout was soon "marked down as one of our stranger false alarms with good intent".

They added: "The skipper of the boat was very apologetic and ultimately we're grateful everyone was safe and well.

"We send our best wishes to the parents to be!"