Deadly gale that killed 70 sailors remembered

A church service has been held to remember the lives of dozens of sailors killed more than 150 years ago when a violent storm hit the East Yorkshire coast.

Seventy men died and about 30 vessels were lost on February 10, 1871, in what became known as the Great Gale.

The service, known as the Fishermans' Service is held annually at Bridlington Priory Church.

Mike Milner from the RNLI said the maritime tragedy was "something that should never be forgotten".

On the day of the storm scores of ships had taken shelter in Bridlington bay - also known as the "Bay of Refuge" - hoping to set sail southwards in the morning if there was a break in the weather, Mr Milner said.

But a change in wind direction caused many of the vessels to run aground or be wrecked against the harbour walls.

Mr Milner said a lifeboat had been sent out to help but was "flipped over, and six of the nine crew were lost".

"It was the whole of the east coast", he explained, "but Bridlington was probably hit harder than anywhere, and it's something that should never be forgotten."

Many of the boats caught up in the gale were full with cargo, and as a result of the disaster Samuel Plimsoll MP was able to press Parliament to bring in a new law to prevent ships being dangerously overladen.

His efforts resulted in the introduction of a ­­­­load line - known as the Plimsoll Line - painted on the hull to indicates the maximum depth a vessel can sit in the water when loaded with cargo.

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