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.

It happened in the same bay where 21 Chinese cockle pickers died in February this year.

Today’s drama followed a collision between two tractor units pulling the trailers on which the rival Scottish and Chinese cocklers were being carried.

It took the rescuers more than three hours to get all the 144 cocklers involved safely back to shore, with the last one saved just minutes before the tide turned.

As police launched an investigation into the collision tonight, one local businesswoman claimed that an “altercation” between the two groups had sparked the drama.

In July, police said they were investigating the possibility that a turf war had broken out between rival cockling gangs.

Cumbria Police tonight said its officers were investigating the latest incident and whether any criminal offences had been committed.

On February 5, this year, 21 Chinese cockle pickers died in Morecambe Bay after being trapped by fast rising tides.

Detectives believe two more people drowned but their bodies have not been found. Five people have now been charged in connection with events that lead to their deaths.

Safety campaigners said the latest incident today highlighted yet again the need for better regulation of the cockle-picking industry in Morecambe Bay.