Scarborough driver Alex Dawson played a key part by using his LandRover to tow the stricken Nissan out of the waves in Scarborough's North Bay.

He was driving along Marine Drive on his way home from Ruswarp when he saw the drama unfolding.

Realising he could not take his vehicle on to the beach, he asked for permission and leapt into action. A tow rope was attached to the Nissan, Mr Dawson got behind the wheel of his LandRover and dozens of other people pulled on the rope to help driver James Houlsby bring his Nissan to dry land.

Mr Houlsby, from Wakefield, was caught by the incoming tide as he attempted to tow a jetski from the sea.

Despite the efforts of bemused by-standers to push the vehicle out of the water, it took the fire brigade and Mr Dawson to haul it out.

Fire crew manager John Mitchell said without the help of Mr Dawson, the vehicle would have ended up under the water and drifting out to sea.

Full report and more pictures in Monday's Evening News