TOURISM officials are crowing after the unscheduled arrival of thousands of visitors to the region, due to the sighting of a rare bird.

The eastern crowned warbler was spotted by keen local bird watcher Doug Holden in Trow Quarry, South Shields, on Thursday October 22.

Mr Holden, 47, who initially believed it was the slightly more common yellow browed warbler, posted an accompanying photograph on a bird-watchers’ website.

It was quickly confirmed as the eastern crowned species, usually found in warmer climes, mainly in east and south Asia.

There have only been five sightings in western Europe since 1843, the last in Holland in 2007, and none previously in Britain.

News quickly spread on ornithologists’ websites, and, by the following day, hundreds of twitchers flocked to the disused quarry, just yards from Sandhaven Beach.

Althought it has since left its temporary roost, it brought a knock on benefit of boosting the economy of the seaside town.

Tony Duggan, head of culture and neighbourhoods for South Tyneside Council, said: "The sighting has really put a spotlight on South Shields, its magnificent coastline and its attractiveness to wildlife of all descriptions.

"In the last week we’ve seen thousands of visitors from all over the country flock to the quarry, where the bird roosted over the weekend.

"It was truly wonderful to see so many bird enthusiasts in one place.

"We hope the sighting will encourage visitors to come and see some of the many other wildlife attractions in the borough."

He said the limestone cliffs in nearby Marsden, South Shields, are home to a colony of kittiwakes, first recorded as nesting in the area in the 1930s, while Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, looking over Marsden Bay, is a protected area, managed by the National Trust.