Rescue move as two in river

Rescue boats were scrambled when two young men in a dinghy were seen heading over a weir in a Shropshire river.

Emergency services swung into action at 7pm yesterday after reports of the incident on the River Severn at Sydney Avenue, Castlefields, Shrewsbury.

A water ladder, rescue pump, boat and rescue unit plus fire engines from Shrewsbury and Wellington were called out.

But the crews arrived to find two people had managed to get out the water unaided.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said they received reports of a "concern for safety" incident involving two people but that neither had been harmed.

Richard Ewels, police spokesman, today urged people not to go out on the water calling it "dangerous".

He said: "We received reports that an inflatable dinghy or raft containing two young men had been seen going over the weir at the back of Sydney Avenue.

"The occupants were thrown into the water and were swept downstream by the current. There was concern for their safety as initially they were never seen getting out of the water. Following inquiries we established they got out safely."