DAREDEVIL sportsmen and woman are causing a major headache for volunteer rescue services across the region by thoughtlessly putting themselves at risk.

Rescuers say they have seen an increasing number of call-outs over the past few years, due in part to the rise in popularity of extreme sports, such as jet skiing, surfing and kite-boarding.

Tony Clare, the sea safety co-ordinator in the region for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), said that 30 years ago lifeboat call-outs dealt almost exclusively with stranded fishing and pleasure boats.

Last year, lifeboats on the North-East coast, from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Scarborough, made 60 launches to people who had been taking part in sporting activities.

Mr Clare said: "You just get one thing under control and something bigger, faster and better comes along.

"The last thing we want to do is discourage people from using the sea.

"But it's about educating people and using common sense to make sure they stay buoyant, warm and can contact people until they get rescued."

Mr Clare said North-East local authorities were particularly proactive with water safety and worked with the RNLI on providing beach lifeguard training and to improve signage at beaches.

Land-based rescue services are also attending more call-outs and rescue officials say this is due to an increased awareness of their skills and also increased popularity of outdoor pursuits.

So far this year, Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team have attended 27 call-outs and looks likely to break its record of 40 call-outs in a year.

Team leader Dave Bartles-Smith said that 15 years ago, the number of call-outs a year was in single figures.

He said: "I don't think it's so much the extreme sports, I think it's a greater recognition of what we can provide.

"The police are drawing upon our skills a lot more to assist in lowland searches for vulnerable people, such as Alzheimer's sufferers or missing children.

"For the past ten years or so, as skills and equipment have got better, there have been increasing numbers of people on the hills and, with the open access laws coming into the North Pennines, there's a strong possibility there will be even more people."

These views were echoed by Roger Swainston, surface rescue leader with Swaledale Fell Rescue Team.

He said: "We get 18 to 20 call-outs a year when a few years ago it was more like a dozen. We do have the odd hang-glider, but we've had those in this area for many years now and we've also got a cave rescue team.

"I agree that it is more to do with a recognition of what we can provide."

* The RNLI offers free advice on water safety. Call 0800-328 0600 or visit www.rnli.org.uk/seasafet