A WOMAN who was rescued by helicopter after falling on to rocks has been reunited with the four community safety wardens who helped save her.

The team were delivering leaflets in Skinningrove, east Cleveland, when Julie Pereira fell during a day out looking for winkles with her husband.

Tom Jones was the first warden on the scene and called the emergency services after finding Mrs Pereria, who had broken her ankle in two places.

Mr Jones and Joanne Watson gave her their high visibility vests to keep her warm.

They alerted wardens Lee Collins and Paul Whittaker, who waited for the ambulance and directed the medical team to the beach.

Coastguards then helped the paramedics reach the scene where they used blankets to warm Mrs Pereira up.

As a result of the tide, Mrs Pereira could not be brought to safety by land and was airlifted by a RAF helicopter.

Redcar and Cleveland Mayor, Councillor Madge Moses, hosted a civic reception for the wardens, during which were reunited with Mrs Pereira.

Mrs Pereira,who has been recovering at her home in Hardwick, Stockton, said: "They were very helpful, kept talking to me, telling jokes, keeping me going. I just wanted to thank them."

Mr Jones said: "It's really nice of Julie to make an effort to say thanks. She was really brave, she must have been in an awful lot of pain."

He said it would be good to see her fully recovered.

It was a dramatic end to the winkling trip, for which Mrs Pereira and her husband, Clive, paid £6.

Mrs Pereira said: "We've never been in a helicopter before and as we landed at hospital, Clive said: 'That was brilliant - all this for just £6.' I was just glad it was all over."