A SCUBA diver has died after being swept out to sea off the North-East coast.

The diver was in a group of three females who were walking across a causeway to St Marys Island, near Whitley Bay, at about 4.25pm this evening.

All three, who were preparing to dive, got into difficulties and although two were able to make their way back to safety, the third was swept out.

A joint police and coastguard rescue operation was launched and they were joined by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer.

The diver was found by the Cullercoats Lifeboat about 200 metres from the shore after a search which lasted more than an hour.

She was treated by paramedics at the scene, but later died at North Tyneside General Hospital in North Shields.