Lucky lady lobsters caught off the North East coast will be rescued from the boiling pot in a bid to boost stocks,

Under a new three-year scheme 3,000 female lobsters will be bought back from wholesalers after being caught by fishermen - and then returned to the sea to allow them to produce more little lobsters,

A special tool will be used to cut a V-shape into their tails which takes three years to grow out. During that time, the lobster cannot legally be landed again.

The £20,750 project, by the Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee, is being funded by Europe and Northumberland County Council.