TWO teenage boys had to be rescued from a cliff face last night.

The pair were 30ft up the north side of Tynemouth Priory.

A spokesman for Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade said: "The Brigade Land Rover was on scene within 30 seconds of the call and one brigade member made contact with the lads using mobile phone and immediately decided that a rope rescue would be required to successfully recover the two casualties.

"Working in close conjunction with the Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade, one brigade member and two specially-trained firemen from their rope rescue team, based in Hebburn, were lowered over the Priory wall towards the casualties. The brigadesman rescued one of the young men and one of the firemen rescued the other teenager."

Both casualties, aged 14 and 15, were cold after spending an hour stuck on the cliff, but after a check-up by ambulance paramedics required no further medical attention and were taken back to their homes by Northumbria Police.

"The incident saw the brigade use their new rope rescue equipment for the first time in an emergency to great success and also demonstrated the strong working relationship between the brigade and the local fire brigade," the spokesman added.