By Liz Fowler

FOUR YOUTHS understood to have been involved in the dangerous practice of “tomb stoning” were rescued last night from cliffs near Arbroath after getting into difficulties.

The drama began around 7.30 pm when the boys, aged 14 to 15, were reported trapped by the tide at an area known as the Needle’s Eye, just north of Arbroath.

A rescue was mounted involving an Arbroath coastguard rescue team, police and the inshore lifeboat.

The boys were quickly landed back at Arbroath harbour uninjured, but chastened after the incident.

A spokesman for Forth Coastguard said, “We believe the boys may have been engaging in the practice known as tomb stoning—diving off the cliffs into the water—which has become increasingly common around the UK coastline.”

The youngsters were uplifted from the base of the cliff and taken by lifeboat back to the harbour, where they were checked over and asked for an explanation before being released to their families.