The RNLI has withdrawn lifeboat cover from the Newcastle area of the County Down coast.

The decision on Saturday follows a row which led to 15 members of its crew resigning last week.

The inshore inflatable was taken out of service on Wednesday because of the resignations.

Now the manning problems have led to the withdrawal of the main lifeboat.

Colin Williams: "No option but to withdraw service"

The RNLI said other services further along the County Down coast would provide cover. A Royal Navy vessel is also in the area.

Talks on Wednesday aimed at trying to resolve a dispute made no progress.

Two RNLI inspectors had travelled from Dublin in a bid to resolve the dispute.

One of them said on Saturday that the organisation felt it had little option but to withdraw the service.

"We are concerned about the health and safety aspects of the launch and recovery," said Colin Williams.

"We witnessed a very hostile scene at the lifeboat station on Wednesday evening and there is a hostile mood in the town, emotions are running high and the RNLI feels that this is an action we sadly have to take."

In a statement issued on Thursday evening some of the Newcastle lifeboat crew said: "Following last night's meeting we felt the only option open to us was the one we have taken.

"We regret having to take this drastic action, but we have been forced into it by the failure of RNLI management to adequately address the dispute within the station."

Coxswain dispute

The dispute is understood to centre on a dispute between the crews and their coxswain.

The coxswain left the station, but crew members who have resigned said they were opposed to a proposal that he should be reinstated.

It's a great concern that we haven't got a service in place at the moment

Eamon O'Neil SDLP MLA

The SDLP assembly member for the area, Eamon O'Neill, said he had worries over the issue.

"It's a great concern that we haven't got a service in place at the moment.

"It's my hope and the hope of all involved that, very quickly, we will get it resolved."

Fishermen and other mariners are concerned that if a resolution is not agreed the future of the station could be in jeopardy.

Dick James of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organization stressed the importance of the service to the local fishing community.

"It is worrying because the lifeboat is back up insurance for when something goes wrong," he said.

"That is the only deep sea capacity lifeboat immediately adjacent to our fishing grounds.

"It is strategic as far as we are concerned anything would go wrong that is the boat you would be expecting to come to your aid."

The Newcastle lifeboat helped in the huge search for the missing fishing vessel, the Tullaghmurry Lass, earlier this year.

The boat disappeared on 14 February with the loss of three generations of the Greene family from Kilkeel in County Down.

The Newcastle station is one of the oldest in the United Kingdom and Ireland.