A COLLISION between two tractors belonging to gangs of cocklers on the deadly sands of Morecambe Bay was an accident a joint investigation has found.

A full-scale search and rescue operation was launched on August 7 when the coastguard received reports that groups of Scottish and Chinese cockle pickers were trapped five-miles off shore.

Two hovercraft, two rescue helicopters and three lifeboats rushed to the scene fearing a repeat of the tragedy which earlier last year claimed the lives of 21 people.

According to the emergency call, a collision between two tractors taking gangs to the beds had left the cocklers trapped on the deadly sands off Newbiggin.

But once at the scene the emergency services found that some of the 192 cocklers did not want to leave with the turn of the tide four hours away.

The investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive and Cumbria Constabulary found that the crash was an accident and that there was "no evidence" of "criminal intent to cause damage to machinery used on the Bay." It also found that there was no evidence of "disorder on the sands," nor risk of "serious injury or death."

Instead, the investigation reported that one tractor on the sands became disabled and was removed from the bay by its owners who had back-up transport in place.

However, two people have been charged with minor road traffic offences as a result of the collision and the HSE has issued nine improvement notices to the fishermen focusing on tractor maintenance, trailer design and capacity, safe carriage of passengers and risk assessments.

At the time of the incident, the Coastguard, Cumbria Police and the Royal National Life Guard Institution were criticised in the media for the scale of their reaction.

However, the investigation praised the work of the emergency services saying that serious risk of injury or death had been avoided because of their "foresight and prudent actions."