A WOMAN had to be rescued by lifeboat after becoming trapped on rocks by the incoming tide.

It is unclear why the woman, believed to be in her twenties, was on the rocks at the Headland, Hartlepool.

Police, the Hartlepool inshore lifeboat and coastguard were called to the incident, at about 10pm on Monday, after a resident reported seeing the woman on Parton Rocks, about a quarter of a mile south of the Headland jetty.

A police helicopter shone a spotlight down to help members of the lifeboat crew who guided the woman to the beach.

She was not in any danger and had not been injured during the incident.

The inshore lifeboat was also called out yesterday at about 2.30pm, to Seaton Carew after the coastguard received a call from a boy to say his sister had drifted out to sea in her dingy.

The girl, whose age is unknown, was located half-a-mile from the shore and brought back safely.

A spokeswoman for the Coastguard said: "She was unhurt but was a bit upset and shocked."