A VAN was fully submerged by the incoming tide after getting bogged down in the sand.

Then a Range Rover - which tried to reach the stricken Ford Transit - also became stuck with "seawater lapping around its bonnet".

The van was being used to launch a jet ski at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside this afternoon and the owner called a friend to bring the Range Rover to free him. But it too also became stuck as the tide came in.

As a number of people watched the drama unfold and police were called, who inturn, alerted Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team and Cullercoats RNLI at 3.22pm.

A spokesman said: "Brigade members arrived on scene to find a Ford Transit van fully submerged with a Range Rover also with seawater lapping around its bonnet.

"Crew members from Cullercoats RNLI were able to get tow lines onto both vehicles and gradually managed to bring them both ashore and to points where their owners could arrange recovery.

"It is believed that the van hit difficulties recovering a personal water craft from the sea, with the Range Rover owner going to their aid, before he too got into difficulty."

They managed to drag both vehicles ashore using a tractor.

"The owners of both vehicles were issued with safety advice by both the police and Coastguard representatives.

"Although they had by this point appreciated the power of the sea."

All rescue units were stood down at 6pm.