FIREFIGHTERS were called to rescue a 12-year-old after he became stuck 120ft up a cliff at a quarry in Malvern in the baking sun.

The incident happened at 11.37am yesterday and firefighters from Malvern fire station were called to the scene by a passer-by.

Firefighters used off-road vehicles to reach the top of the cliff face at Earnslaw Quarry, off Wyche Road, and rescued the boy using a ropes and pulley system.

The boy is believed to have been with two friends of a similar age and had been trying to climb the cliff face from the water at the bottom of the quarry when he encountered difficulties.

Police officers also attended the scene and the boy, who was uninjured, was rescued at 12.23pm.

"He was definitely very lucky as it just takes one little slip and he would have dropped 120ft on to the water's edge, which is rock," said leading firefighter Keith Massan of Malvern fire station.

"People need to be aware that what looks like quite an easy climb, when you get to a point of no return, turns out to be very difficult and treacherous. This is particularly because the terrain becomes loose underfoot and the cliff face becomes very steep,"

"We would advise people to stay away from the quarries completely."

Yesterday, on the day of the incident Malvern Hills Conservators have been handing out leaflets warning of the dangers of swimming in the quarries. The leaflets follow warnings to youngsters cooling down during the scorching weather.

In the past eight years, the quarries have claimed three lives while numerous others had to be rescued.

"The water's cold, people have had cramps and died," said Ian Rowat, conservator's director.

"We can't allow people to swim there, it's one of the most dangerous spots around. But people are saying they know it's dangerous but like the adrenaline rush."