VOLUNTEERS who rescued a teenager found unconscious on rocks off the North-East coast returned to their cars to find they had been damaged by vandals.

Members of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade were called to cliffs at Tynemouth Priory, North Tyneside, by an ambulance crew concerned for a youth found on the rocks at about 1.40am on Wednesday.

They had to be lowered down the cliffs to reach the 17-year-old, while two crew members of the Cullercoats RNLI inshore lifeboat swam to the rocks to held administer first aid.

The teenager was then transferred to a rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer.

When volunteers from the Tynemouth brigade returned to their cars parked nearby, they found that two cars belonging to them had been scratched.

A brigade spokesman described the actions as "extremely disappointing".

The teenager, who was believed to be suffering from hypothermia, was airlifted to hospital. He condition was said to be poorly but stable.