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HIGH SEAS: A Vauxhall Zafira risks being swept away, as waves crash over the sea wall in Redcar

SEASIDE visitors were criticised for playing in towering waves which smashed into the North- East coast yesterday as the region braced itself for a wintry Easter break.

Coastguards said a family who parked up on the seafront at Redcar, east Cleveland, risked being swept out to sea.

A young boy can be seen grinning from the back seat, only seconds before a wall of water smashes down on the car.

The vehicle survived intact, but coastguards criticised the visitors.

Coastguard officer Alex Harrison said: "Although the weather can be very impressive, with strong winds and high tides, people have to realise and remember it can be very dangerous.

"It's only two years ago that we lost a family of three who were watching waves at Scarborough."

Firefighters in Redcar were called to clear a fallen tree off the A174 at Wilton, at about 3pm yesterday.

Further north, the strong winds whipped up a towering column of spray that loomed over the pier in Seaham, County Durham.

INCLEMENT: Walkers brave high winds on Tynemouth beach

Onlookers watched from the safety of their seafront homes.

Local resident John Wilson, 43, said: "It's been a long time since I've seen waves that size - they were three times the size of the lighthouse."

In North Yorkshire, high winds caused damage to several buildings yesterday afternoon.

Firefighters were called out after roof tiles on a building in Northallerton High Street became dislodged.

A chimney stack in Clarence Street and a weather vane in Tanner Road, both York, also needed to be made safe.

Meanwhile, forecasters said the prospect of a white Easter was looking increasingly likely last night.

Daniel Adamson, from MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, predicted rain, sleet and snow showers today, with temperatures no higher than 5C (41F).

Tonight, heavier snow falls are forecast on low, as well as high ground.

Mr Adamson said: "Tomorrow, there will be a return of the sleet and snow showers.

"It's going to be very cold and windy."

The forecast was further bad news for travellers, as parts of Britain's rail network were yesterday crippled by a huge engineering work programme planned for the Easter weekend.

Major works affected the East and West Coast Main Lines.

Timetables on some of the country's busiest routes were slashed to one train per hour or fewer as operators ran weekend services to make way for major track-laying and bridge repairs.

A five-day strike by staff in York responsible for the 25,000- volt supply on the East Coast Main Line will continue until Monday, although Network Rail said the strike would not cause disruptions.

However, amid fears that rail delays would drive millions on to the roads, motoring groups said last night that the expected pressure on traffic appeared to have peaked already.

The next major pinchpoint is expected to be Easter Monday, as millions make the journey home.

7:49am Saturday 22nd March 2008

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