A FAMILY-of-four was rescued safely on Tuesday after becoming the latest casualties of the incoming tide at a coastal beauty spot.

An RAF rescue helicopter called from its base at nearby Boulmer successfully winched two young children, plus their mother and father from the floating Ford Focus car after becoming stranded on the causeway linking Holy Island to the mainland, in Northumberland.

The car had begun floating, such was the level of the tide, almost two hours after the last safe crossing time, displayed at both ends of the causeway.

Helicopter pilot Lieutenant Miles Barnet said the children, a girl aged four and a two-year-old boy, were traumatised, but appeared unhurt by their ordeal.

Both children and their father were winched from the car roof and the mother was standing waist deep by the side of the vehicle when she was brought to safety.

Lieut Barnet said: "The concern was that the car was moving a little and, if it hadn't filled up with water, it could have lifted up and started to float away.

"Obviously, it was a concern as there were two young children on board not wearing any life preservers, and they could have ended up in very cold water trying to swim.

"We picked them up one at a time, children first, and they were pretty traumatised at the time.

"The mother was also pretty upset, but very relieved when they got back on the ground."

None of the family, from Lawton, near Manchester, required medical treatment, but they were left having to make arrangements to recover their sea soaked car when the tide receded last night.