A Heritage Lottery Grant of �50,000 is being used to mark LowTide Day which encourages people to discover what is covered by the sea at most times.

Among the locations holding events are County Durham, Northumberland, Tyneside and Cumbria.

The aim is to raise people's interests and highlight the threat to coasts.

LowTide Day is co-ordinated by Brighton-based environment group riverOcean and CoastNET, which promotes sustainable coasts and seas.

Events were being held at Blackhall Rocks, County Durham and Low Newton-by-the Sea and Cambois Beach, both in Northumberland.

There were also events at Souter Lighthouse, South Tyneside, and at Kendal, in Cumbria.