A DATE has been set for the closure of the North-East's last coastguard station.

The Tyne Tees station, at Tynemouth, North Tyneside, will shut on September 28. The nearest station, at Bridlington, in East Yorkshire, will then have responsibility for the east coast, up to Scotland.

More than 60,000 North-East people signed a petition against the measure, but the Government says that digital technology at Bridlington will enable watch officers to monitor a bigger area at less cost.