A BRIDEGROOM-TO-BE was criticised by police after he jet skied naked down the River Tyne.

A video, posted on website YouTube, shows the man - who is on a stag night - on the back of a jet-ski cutting through the Tyne under the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

The clip begins with the title "Newcastle ... June 2007" with The Sage Gateshead in the backdrop to a shot of the Millennium Bridge.

Suddenly, a jet ski appears in the water, the driver's identity hidden by a helmet, with a naked man on the back waving to those taking the film.

The pair speed up the river and turn around to accelerate back to the bridge before taking a turn that sees them both thrown from the machine. Billed on You Tube as "Borat impersonator on Stag Do in Newcastle hijacks jet-ski rider", the 54-second clip shows the pair swimming back to the machine as it floats away.

Last night, the emergency services criticised the partygoer.

Chief Inspector John Van, of Northumbria Police's operations department, said: "This appears to be a foolhardy act which could have had serious consequences.

"The Tyne is not a playground and officers are frequently called to help people in difficulties.

"To act in such an irresponsible manner could have put themselves and others in danger in what has the potential to be a hazardous environment."

Dave Simpson, assistant chief fire officer, said: "This type of behaviour is extremely irresponsible and puts people's lives at risk.

"This man could have been injured or possibly even drowned - all because of a stupid prank.

"We have one fireboat operating in the whole of Tyne and Wear.

"Pranks like this waste our firefighters' time and risk endangering the lives of people who genuinely need our help as we cannot be in two places at once."

The clipwas posted on Sunday and, by the date from the camera used to take the footage, took place at 6.05pm on Saturday.

No comments on the video have been made and the user who posted the film, Icer990, signs only as "Neil" and says he is 43.

The website says the man who posted the video only joined YouTube on June 17 - the day after the event took place.