Shields Ferry recruits first female crew member

The Shields Ferry has recruited its first ever female crew member in 40 years.

Nicola Peach has made history by becoming the first woman to take the controls of the historic cross-Tyne service.

The 37-year-old, who is from South Shields, has taken the role of Second Mate.

She will spend the next few months learning the controls before she has to sit the maritime equivalent of a driving test, which will allow her to pilot the ferry with passengers on board.

Nexus, which owns and operates the ferry, has never previously had a successful female applicant in 40 years of operating the service.