A FAMILY stranded by the rising tide under the highest cliffs on the East coast of England have been dramatically rescued by RNLI volunteers.

Two boys, aged nine and 11, were with their parents and pet dog walking beneath Boulby cliffs between Staithes and Skinningrove, in east Cleveland, when they realised they were cut off by the sea.

The family rang 999 and the Staithes and Runswick RNLI lifeboat was launched. The crew arrived on the scene within ten minutes of the call being made on Thursday afternoon.

One RNLI crew member swam ashore to ensure the family stayed on a ledge and above the rising tide in the New Fall area.

HM Coastguard teams from Staithes, Redcar and Whitby gathered at the nearest clifftop at Boulby Cottages and were prepared to rescue the family of four with 200-metre ropes.

However, the decision was taken that it would be safer to reach the family and their dog by boat.

In what was described as an “exemplary operation in trick conditions”, helmsman Drew Baxter manoeuvred the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat between the rocks and as close to the shore as possible.

Two more crewmen swam separately ashore with dry suits and lifebelts, and attaching each member of the family to a safety line, escorted them in turn through the rocks and choppy sea back to the lifeboat.

Their pet spaniel was last to be rescued and it is understood the family from Birmingham are holidaying in the area, staying in the seaside village of Staithes.

Just over an hour after the alarm was raised, the family were safely returned to Staithes and after a check-up at the RNLI boathouse, they were able to return to their holiday cottage.

A spokesman for Staithes RNLI said: “The rocks along the shoreline at this point under Boulby are as big as cars and even a low swell can create big waves to swim through.

“But this sort of rescue is what we train for and it was an exemplary operation in tricky conditions.

“We’re delighted that everyone returned safe and sound, but please remember to check the tide tables before setting off to walk under these cliffs as they get cut off by the tide both sides of Staithes.

“Tell someone where you’re going and take a mobile phone. This could have been very nasty if they hadn’t been able to phone the Coastguard on 999.”