THE Coastguard has issued a warning on the perils of the North-East coast, just weeks after revealing the Tyne-Tees station is to close.

The Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) urged seaside visitors to follow a safety code to reduce the number of deaths during the bank holiday, one of its busiest periods.

The move comes just weeks before the closure of the Tyne-Tees Coastguard station, which critics claim could put more lives at risk.

MCA figures reveal that the Tyne-Tees station handled 408 incidents last year, including six deaths.

But, from September 28, responsibility for monitoring the North-East coast will be split between the Humber station, near Hull, and the Forth coastguard, at Edinburgh.

Campaigners drew up a 60,000-name petition in an unsuccessful attempt to stave off the money-saving measure and David Taylor, North-East regional coach of the British Sub-aqua Club, said launching the safety drive just weeks before closing the station struck the wrong note.

"We did not think it was a good idea, and to have a weekend trying to raise safety awareness when they are closing this station seems a little odd," he said.

"Our argument is that local knowledge is very important and if someone in Humberside takes an extra few minutes to find out where someone is, that could mean the difference between life and death."

The MCA said that some of the Tyne-Tees staff would be moving to the Humber centre, taking their local knowledge with them, and that there would still be a coastguard presence at South Shields.

MCA principal search and rescue officer Peter Dymond said: "We are extremely worried that too many visitors will be heading out this bank holiday without taking any safety precautions whatsoever.

"The coastal hotspots map shows how many unnecessary accidents and incidents are reported to HM Coastguard every year, and reveals just how dangerous our coastline can be."

The Northern Echo reported how a lifeguard saved a teenager from drowning in the sea off Saltburn, east Cleveland, just a few days ago and, last month, 20-year-old Steven Graham was rescued after being found unconscious on the sea bed off Easington Colliery, County Durham