SHIP FIRE OFF NORTH EAST COAST

A fire aboard the cargo ship ‘Rosebank’ has been put out and the situation described as "under control".

The 72-metre, 1,600 tonne vessel was carrying fertiliser from Dundee to the Channel Islands when fire broke out off the Farne Islands.

The protection ship HMS Anglesey received the distress call at 2256 GMT on Friday 14 December 2001 and arrived at the scene two hours later.

Fire destroyed the ship's bridge and continued until the firefighting tug Phoenix Cross arrived to put out the flames.

All five crew members were flown to Wansbeck Hospital in Northumberland by RAF helicopter.

The Rosebank was being towed to the River Tyne on Saturday night.