FOREIGN language signs are being considered as the latest measure to prevent holiday makers becoming trapped by the tide on Holy Island causeway.
Northumberland County Council is looking into the move after two Spaniards had to be rescued by Seahouses inshore lifeboat from the refuge box last week.
The pair, who spoke no English, had attempted to drive across the causeway on Tuesday, August 5
, more than an hour after the safe crossing time.
The county council has erected a display of photographs illustrating the dangers of becoming caught out by the water next to the tide tables.
Seahouses RNLI operations manager Ian Clayton welcomed the latest move but said that the existing sign transcends language barriers.
He said: "More signs in different language can only help but the pictures speak for themselves. However, where do you draw the line, we cannot cater for all different languages."
The photo-montage came a year after the county council put up new signs showing a partly-submerged car to try and deter people from ignoring the warnings.
A council spokeswoman said: "We have recently installed a turning area on the island side of the causeway to allow drivers to turn back when the causeway ahead is covered with water. We have also put up new photo-montages beside the tide tables that show how dangerous it is to attempt to cross the causeway outside of the safe crossing times.
"These visual images are intended to be universally understood and do not rely on a specific language to get the message across. In the light of recent events though we may have to consider the need for signs in other languages to be placed in the vicinity of the causeway."
Meanwhile, Alan Charlton contacted the Gazette and said the photo-montage was a "waste of time and money" and the only way to deter motorists was the erect a barrier to prevent people going across when the causeway is flooded.
Mr Charlton, of North Shields, said: "If motorists did not heed other written warnings do you think that when they are in a hurry to cross the causeway when the tide is coming in they will stop and look at pictures?
"No chance, they do not take any notice of newspaper articles or television news items showing such incidents. To me the only way to prevent such incidents is to put a physical barrier across the causeway when it is unsafe to cross, and save the cost of rescues for the RNLI and the Boulmer helicopter.
"I am sure that the Natural England warden on Holy Island could open and close the barrier when he is there and at other times I am sure one of the islanders could do it. I also think that if someone has to be rescued and it is because of a person's stupidity then they should contribute to the cost of the rescue."
Mr Clayton said: "The problem with barriers, although it seems a simple solution, is they're mechanical and would be affected by salt air and salt water and could make the system jam which would cause problems for emergency services."
He also said it was not practical to rely on someone to open and close the barrier.
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