Cocklers rescued at scene of February tragedy

A turf war between rival cockle gangs was blamed tonight for a collision between two tractor vehicles which left more than 140 cockle pickers stranded four miles from shore at Morecambe Bay in England today.

A major rescue operation was launched with hovercrafts, helicopters and lifeboats being scrambled to bring the two groups of cocklers to safety at Morecambe Bay in Lancashire.