Two young children were rescued by an off-duty policeman after becoming trapped in a Shropshire river when they got in to cool off.

The children, aged eight and 11, were playing in the River Tern, near Tern Hill, when they got stuck yesterday afternoon.

A third child, aged 11, managed to get himself out of the river and to safety, although at one point the emergency services became concerned because there was no sign of him.

The mother of the first two children flagged down custody sergeant Dave Clemmett as he drove along the A41.

She said today he had been “brilliant” and thanked him for helping her sons.

“The policeman was fantastic, absolutely fantastic,” she said.

“He actually went in and got them out. He went down the bank, pushed the reeds and stingers back and carried them back on his back to the roadside.

“I can’t thank him enough for getting them out.”

Although none of the children was injured, the woman, who did not wish to be named, issued a warning about the dangers of playing near water.

She said: “Despite how inviting the water looks on a hot day it’s dangerous to get in.

Sergeant Clemmett said: “The boys had entered the river further up but had got into difficulties and become frightened where it passes beneath the A41, where the banks are very steep on either side and are covered in thick, high vegetation.

“I got into the water and helped the two of them out and up the bank. There was a third boy unaccounted for. Luckily he had managed to get himself out and had gone home.”