AS a region with a long stretch of coastline, the North-East is closer - in all respects - to the sea than many other parts of the country.

In generations gone by, we made our living from it, trading, building ships and fishing. Generations to come may also make livings from it, particularly as tourism to our wide open expanses grows.

And practically all of us have, at some time, made our leisure there - either walking the dog on a windblown winter's day or bucketing and spading with the kids on a warm(ish) summer's day.

Because of this closeness, there can be no-one who hasn't felt for the families involved in the weekend's Scarborough tragedy. A sandy beach has been the setting for so many happy childhood adventures, yet to see a line of policemen stretched out across it, searching for the remains of a young life, was quite shocking.

Shocking because it acts as a callous reminder that life is so fragile that even during the most innocent of pastimes it can disappear in front of our eyes - and no amount of technology and helicopters can do anything about it.

Our hearts really do go out to those grieving loved ones lost in this terrible tragedy.

Off-side fixture

THE Football Association can't do right for doing wrong with regards to the venue for the FA Cup semi-finals. Cardiff is an uncomfortably long and expensive way for Newcastle and Manchester United fans to travel - particularly if Newcastle's European commitments dictate a Sunday kick-off.

But equally, if the tie were to be held closer to home it would have to be held in a smaller ground and then there would be complaints that too many fans were being deprived the chance of seeing their club's big day out.

Of course, in a couple of years' time, a magnificent new Wembley stadium will be hosting all the FA Cup semi-finals, so the inconvenience of a trip to Cardiff is only temporary.

Except that Wembley is an inaccessible corner of London that is still a very long way from either Newcastle or Manchester - and the FA could have done something about placing the new national stadium somewhere the whole nation could have reached more easily.