RNLI lifeboat teams rescued 317 people along the region’s coastline last year, new figures reveal.

That was a slight increase on 2014 when 303 were rescued.

Sunderland lifeboat station carried out the most rescues – 93 people, followed by Hartlepool (77) and Whitby (63).

There were also 244 launches involving both inshore and all-weather lifeboats in 2015.

The RNLI’s flood rescue team, consisting of lifeguard volunteers, also rescued 400 people from floods in December in Cockermouth, Kendal and Carlisle.

The most common cause of lifeboat call-outs across the North of England was to boats with machinery failure (22 per cent of all launches), followed by people in the water (13.5 per cent) and people being cut off by the tide (eight per cent).

Andrew Ashton, RNLI’s divisional operations manager, said: “The RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards have once again had a busy year and I want to thank them for their hard work and dedication to saving lives.

“However, they couldn’t carry out their crucial role without the army of fundraisers and other volunteers who raise money and awareness of the RNLI in their local communities – they are the lifeblood of our charity.”

Mr Ashton said very basic precautions could keep people safe on and by the sea.

“Checking a vessel’s engine and fuel before setting out to sea should help prevent our most common cause of rescue, machinery failure,” he said.

“Finding out tide times before going for a walk along the coast can make the difference between a pleasant day out and getting cut off by the tide.”