POLICE are reminding people to take extra care when enjoying the region's seaside areas and cliff tops after a 13-year-old fell 20 feet off a ledge.

The boy, who fell from a ledge on the cliff edge off Norma Crescent, next to Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside, is in a serious but stable condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

The incident happened on Thursday (August 18) at 5.40pm.

Now police are advising people to think about their safety, especially over the summer holiday period.

Chief Inspector John Barnes said: "We want people to enjoy coming to the coast and taking part in water based activities - but we want them to do so safely without putting themselves or others at risk.

"We want to remind people of the dangers of cliff tops to make sure they keep themselves safe and stay well away from the edge, where it can be easy to slip and fall.

"People should always be careful around water and if the sea looks rough we would advise them to be particularly cautious and keep their distance.

"We would also like to remind people of the danger of the sea, and in particular we want to remind visitors to this area who are perhaps not used to the conditions and are unaware of the strength of the waves and the inherent dangers of the sea."

If you see someone else in difficulty in water, contact emergency services by calling 999.