Holy Island tourists 'driving into North Sea'

A lifeboat volunteer says it is "quite bizarre" that tourists continue to try to drive on a tidal causeway outside safe crossing times. It follows the rescue of an Australian couple who became stranded on the Holy Island causeway, off Northumberland. That rescue was the eighth Seahouses RNLI crew has carried out this year.



Ian Clayton, from the Seahouses station said: "It's incredible that people seem to think they can drive their cars into the North Sea." In the latest rescue on Thursday the couple had to abandon their hire car to the incoming tide and make their way to the causeway's refuge shelter.

Ian Clayton said: "It's all so preventable. None of those who are caught out are locals, it's always people who are visiting the area. They all seem to think it's not their fault, but they've totally ignored warning signs on both sides of the road.



"It's quite bizarre. You do wonder what people put on their insurance claim forms in such cases." Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne, is a popular tourist destination attracting thousands of visitors each year.