HAMPSHIRE Fire and Rescue has issued an urgent warning after two people including a child were rescued from sinking mud at a Hampshire beach.

The man and boy were dragged from the foreshore off Monks Walk, Gosport, after getting into trouble at 6.30pm last night.

Another boy had managed to free himself before firefighters arrived.

With high tide approaching emergency services faced a race against time to free them.

Crews of 15 firefighters from Gosport, Fareham, and Havant, including water rescue technicians spent nearly an hour free them before using a sled to get them to safety.

Station Manager Tim Spencer-Peet, Tactical Advisor at the incident said: "Even though the weather is lovely and warm at the moment, it does mean that mud flats near water are more of a problem.

"You can never be sure of your footing around these areas and so we advise Hampshire residents to be careful near the water's edge."

The pair were checked over by paramedics from South Central Ambulance but did not require medical treatment.