TWO men had to be rescued after getting into difficulty in the sea off Redcar.

Hartlepool coastguard was patrolling the area when it received a call to go to the pier at South Gare this evening.

Hartlepool RNLI was also called to the scene and pulled both men from the water.

“We were then tasked to Hartlepool lifeboat station were a waiting ambulance checked over the casualties and transferred them to North Tees Hospital,” said a spokesman for Hartlepool Coastguard.

A spokeswoman for the Humber Coastguard added: "We received a 999 call just after 7.10pm this evening reporting two males in the water off the South Gare.

"Hartlepool lifeboat was tasked and they recovered both males back to their boathouse where they were met by Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team and passed to the North East Ambulance Service."

It is believed both men had been swimming when they got into difficulty.