TWO people had to be rescued from cliffs on the North Yorkshire coast tonight after getting cut off by the tide.

A major rescue operation was launched just after 6pm south of Runswick Bay, between Whitby and Saltburn.

Staithes and Skinningrove Coastguard team along with Whitby Coastguard, Staithes & Runswick RNLI and Runswick Bay Rescue Boat were sent to reports of two people cut off by the tide, some way up the cliff.

Staithes RNLI and Runswick Bay Rescue Boat found the casualties and took them to the lifeboat before transporting them to Runswick Bay.

Despite their ordeal, both were fine and well with no apparent injuries and returned to their car for their journey home.