FIREFIGHTERS have rescued a couple who got stuck in “really deep mud” in Colchester.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said emergency services were called out at 3.24pm on Tuesday afternoon after a member of the public rang the control room to say they had seen two people struggling on the River Colne flood plain near Chiltern Close.

Colchester fire station then sent water rescue technicians who used a mud rescue path to help free the pair.

Watch manager Ian Ryder said: “When we arrived, we could see that the pair were stuck in really deep mud in the river’s flood plain.

“We used a mud rescue path to get them both back to safety. 

“It’s important to take care when walking near rivers and waterways,” he added.

“Luckily the member of public spotted them quickly and rang us for help.” 

Though not a regular job for the emergency services, incidents of people getting stuck in mud on the river banks are not as rare as one might think.

In September last year, a huge emergency response was see in East Hill after a person was stuck in mud on a Friday evening.

And in 2016, a police officer received a special award after he rescued two people and their pet dog from thick mud in Mersea Island.