LIFEBOATMEN were keeping their fingers crossed yesterday as predictions of one of their busiest periods of the year looked increasingly likely to be proved wrong.

Volunteer crews along the North-East coastline had been bracing themselves for one of their busiest holidays yet - as forecast by the statistics released this month.

Figures released by national charity the RNLI show call-outs over the Christmas period, from December 24 and January 3, have increased by 300 per cent since 1980.

The trend is nearly double the national average increase in sea rescues for the same period.

If the line on the graph had continued climbing, it would have meant more volunteers than ever would have been called away from their families to rescue people in danger at sea.

However, halfway through an incident-free Yuletide - against all the predictions - it looked increasingly as if the tide was turning, leaving volunteers to enjoy Christmas and the New Year at home with their families.

It was a different story last January. On the afternoon of January 2, the Blyth RNLI lifeboat crew was called out to help a jet skier in difficulties off South Beach, Blyth, Northumberland.

One of the voluntary crew members, gas technician Andrew Simpson, had been at home with his family when the call for help came.

He said: "It was the bank holiday weekend and we were relaxing at home when my pager went off. I got to the station straight away and we launched very quickly. The man had been in the water for about 30 minutes - other jet skiers had tried to help him, but hadn't been able to.

"When we arrived, he was hypothermic and it was vital we got him out of the water and into a waiting ambulance as quickly as possible.

"We really did get there in the nick of time and probably helped save his life."

Mr Simpson added: "As RNLI volunteers, we are well trained and always ready to respond when we get the call for help, whenever it comes. People don't stop going to sea at Christmas and New Year, and so we have to make sure we are available in case any of them get into trouble."

Since December 25, 1989, RNLI lifeboats have been called out for search and rescue on each day of the Christmas holiday period, with statistics showing New Year's Day to be the busiest day of the festive period for volunteer crews.

Andrew Ashton, RNLI divisional inspector in the North, said: "We don't want our rescue statistics to be even higher this year and I urge anyone who will be in or by the sea during the festive period to take care and ensure they are properly prepared."