THE region's latest lifeboat was called into action for the first time at the weekend.
A new Atlantic 75 class boat was brought into service a week ago at Hartlepool Marina and, on Saturday, the £75,000 vessel attended its first emergency.
The boat - called BBC Radio Cleveland - responded to a radio Mayday from a boat five miles off the River Tees, which reported that a diver had not surfaced.
Hartlepool and Teesmouth lifeboats were both alerted, as well as a helicopter from RAF Boulmer and the Coastguard.
However, the crew had located the diver by the time the emergency services arrived. The diver, who surfaced a mile from his boat, is not thought to have been hurt
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article