Distressed woman sparks two hour emergency rescue at South Shields cliffs

Emergency services were called to the cliffs near the Velvet Bed steps, off Coast Road, Marsden, South Shields, at 6.16pm last night after a woman was found to be in distress.

Services including Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue, North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), Sunderland RNLI and South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade, all attended the scene.

It took until 8.20pm before the woman was taken away from the cliff edge to safety.

Tom Fennelley, honorary secretary of SSVLB said: "Our team was called out to a report of a female who was over the barriers about 200 meters from the Velvet Bed steps.

"Sunderland Coast Guard Rescue Team was deployed along with SSVLB with their rope equipment, should the need have arisen to use them.

"A police negotiator arrived and everyone else stood down. The female was then taken into police care."

A spokeswoman for NEAS said: "We were called at 6.18pm to reports of a female who was in distress at Marsden in South Shields.

"Three hazardous area response teams were dispatched. They were then stood down by police"