People "in crisis" were the driving force behind a rescue charity's record number of call-outs so far this year.

Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade said it had attended 42 incidents since January.

Secretary and captain Peter Lilley said it had been a "rather intense period", adding: "Unfortunately calls to people in crisis are the driver behind our surge this year".

The voluntary organisation recorded that 27 of the 42 calls (68%) were linked to people in crisis. In 2024, it was 55 of the 145 calls (38%).

Mr Lilley said it generally received more calls for people in crisis during autumn and winter.

He said the percentage would drop in the spring and summer months but it was "still a notable factor at the moment".

The organisation has 17 volunteers on its rescue team and is co-ordinated by HM Coastguard.

Call-outs also included a rope rescue of a critically ill man from a fishing boat and several calls on the River Tyne.

Mr Lilley said 16 of those it had attended occurred during unsociable hours between 22:00 and 07:00 GMT.

"This is really notable because these calls are always harder on the team, and also their families and loved ones who are such an important part in enabling them to volunteer," he said.