Many of Britain's traditional fishing communities are turning to tourism to overcome economic decline, a study has revealed.

Researchers found that in several North Sea fishing towns, tourism could provide a greater source of income than fishing.

But the team at Newcastle University warned that these towns risked becoming fishing "theme parks" if developments were not carried out carefully and in consultation with local people.

The study focused on North Shields, Shetland and Peterhead, in Scotland, and Lowestoft, in East Anglia.

Professor Tim Gray, from the university's school of geography, politics and sociology, said: "Many of the smaller fishing communities have been unable to compete in an increasingly globalised fishing industry and it's become an economic necessity for them to diversify and find other sources of income, such as tourism.

"However, developers should be careful not to turn towns into glorified fishing theme parks."