A POLICE patrol boat is sailing into the sunset after decades of work on the River Tyne - and starring on the small screen.

The police launch Aidan, which has featured in television programmes ranging from Heartbeat to Tiswas, has been sold by the force.

BuiIt in 1970, it was originally used to patrol the River Tyne 24 hours a day when the area was a major ship builder, importing and exporting large quantities of coal and steel.

While still useful for a variety of police work, the boat's limited speed has meant that it was unable to provide a rapid response to incidents.

Aidan was hired for a week's filming in Whitby, North Yorkshire, during the early 1990s for the TV series Heartbeat.

It was depicted as a pilot launch vessel, with the word police changed to pilot and two marine unit officers acting as its crew.

Aidan also featured in the series Spender and was used during a broadcast on the children's programme Tiswas.

The vessel has been sold to a man from Jarrow, Tyneside, for £4,500, through brokers Amble Boat Company, of Northumberland.

Inspector John Watts, of the marine unit, said: "Aidan has provided decades of excellent service for Northumbria Police, but has also had a bit of an interesting sideline appearing on television.

"We're sad to see her go, but she did not come quite up to the standards anymore needed for today's modern policing.

"She's helped us police the River Tyne for years, so it is nice to know that's where she will continue to sail, but now purely for the pleasure of her new owner."