FIVE people were part of a mid-river rescue after getting their narrowboat firmly wedged under Eckington Bridge.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene on the River Avon at 3.07pm today, Monday, after a member of the public raised the alarm after spotting the distressed vessel.

A fire-fighting crew with specialist water response equipment was mobilised from Pershore while two water rescue vehicles with boats were despatched from Evesham and Worcester.

A spokesman for the fire service said the swift water rescue team secured the narrowboat with a line and conveyed the five passengers to dry land at 3.44pm. No one is believed to have been injured.

The narrowboat was eventually released and moored up.

It is not known if the rising water levels contributed to the boat becoming wedged.