Firefighters were airlifted on to a island to deal with a blaze that started in a cottage.

An RAF helicopter took the crew to Holy Island, off the Northumberland Coast, after the fire was reported when the causeway linking the well-known island to the mainland was under water.

Humber Coastguard said it received a call requesting help from paramedics at 7.35pm yesterday.

Coastguard controllers called in the rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer and sent coastguard rescue teams from Holy Island and Seahouses.

The helicopter transferred nine firefighters and a member of the ambulance crew to the island and they found a fire had started in a three- bedroom cottage.

A coastguard spokesman said islanders using fire extinguishers managed to prevent the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.

He said one resident had entered the property to rescue a trapped dog. Paramedics were checking the man for potential smoke inhalation.

Coastguard watch manager Graham Dawson said: "This was a multi-agency response to an isolated location as the only connection to the mainland is a causeway, which was under water this evening.

"HM Coastguard's involvement was to co-ordinate the transfer of the right personnel over to the island by helicopter and help with evacuation of residents close to the scene.

"Our coastguard rescue teams both on the island and on the mainland secured the helicopter landing sites."