A HIPPO-shaped paddling pool has played a crucial role in preventing a seaside tragedy.

A lifeboat was called out when an object was spotted floating in the sea in North Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

Coastguards feared the item was an upturned jet ski.

But closer inspection revealed it was nothing more than the children's toy - with the words HMS Hippo written on the side.

However, during the exercise, lifesavers spotted five teenage boys playing on rocks with the tide coming in around them.

A team was immediately despatched to lead them to safety.

The teenagers, who were on a day out from Leeds, were unharmed and were allowed to go on their way.

Andrew Mahood, watch manager for Humber Costguard, said the youngsters were lucky crews had been called out.

"If we hadn't been there, they might have been in some serious trouble, " he said.

"The five teenagers were getting cut off by the tide, so they were watched to safety."

The incident happened at about 6.30pm on Sunday, but details only emerged yesterday.

A spokesman for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) said the incident highlighted the dangers of playing on the sea with inflatables.

He said: "Humber Coastguard received a call reporting an object, which they thought could be an upturned jet ski, about a mile out to sea from the Oasis Cafe, in Scarborough's North Bay.

"The coastguard requested the launch of our in-shore lifeboat to investigate.

"When the in-shore lifeboat crew arrived, they were astonished to find they were rescuing a child's hippo beach toy with the name HMS Hippo written on the side."

The spokesman added: "In this case, it was an empty child's toy, but there could have been children in it.

"It's a warning to parents and children that inflatables are very dangerous and, if not properly used, can have tragic consequences."

Lifeboat crews say the North-East coast is particularly dangerous because westerly winds can blow inflatables out to sea.

Coastguards said the incident was one of several at the weekend where bathers had been caught unawares by the tide.