A swan was rescued from a frozen canal after local schoolchildren spotted the stricken bird.

Crew manager Craig Etherington said the young male swan became frozen in the icy waters at 4.20pm yesterday in the Leeds Liverpool canal behind the Albion pub, Victoria Street, Clayton-le-Moors.

Mr Etherington said firefighters used cutting equipment to free the swan which was trapped around its feet at the side of the canal.