A WOMAN was rescued after sinking into mud on the banks of a Hampshire river.

Coastguards and firefighters were called to the River Hamble after the woman, who was with three children, became trapped near Manor Farm at Bursledon.

She was rescued using ladders that were placed across the mud, enabling firefighters to reach the casualty.

Crews from three fire stations - Fareham, Hightown and Redbridge, took part in the rescue operation.

After being freed from the mud the woman was passed into the care of South Central Ambulance Service.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted just after 12.45pm yesterday.

Firefighters were at the scene for around 30 minutes.

A South Central Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a patient stuck in the mud.

"We sent an ambulance crew and our Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene to take part in the rescue of the casualty."