A TODDLER had to be rescued by firefighters after getting her hand stuck in a bath plughole.

Sophie Lewis was stuck for nearly two hours and taken to hospital with the plug and part of the metal drain still firmly attached after her fingers swelled up.

The 13-month-old was being bathed by mum Samantha when the accident happened at the family home in Marlborough Close, Ramsbottom.

She had eight stitches in her thumb under general anaesthetic at Booth Hall, Children's Hospital, Manchester, after firefighters freed her using a hack-saw.

Samantha said she was too scared to bath her again despite planning to refit a full new bathroom suite after the bath was ruined in the rescue-mission.

The full-time mum, whose husband, Mark was at work at the time said: "I can't go in the bathroom now. It was so horrible. I only looked away for a second and she was just sat there looking at me funny when I turned around. Then she started to cry.

"She had got her fingers well and truly stuck. I couldn't pull them out. Her thumb was quite badly cut while she was struggled as the fire service cut the bolt attaching the plug to the bath.

"I had to try and keep her still while they worked. They were absolutely brilliant. It was so scary we thought she might have damaged her nerve endings in her fingers. But she is fine. I'm so glad it's a happy ending."

Doctors have said Sophie, whose left arm is heavily bandaged to protect her stitches, will make a full recovery once all the swelling goes down.

She is returning to the children's hospital next week to have the bandage removed. Sophie has also been prescribed a cream to reduce any scarring.

Andy Tonge, of Ramsbottom fire station, said: "It was a difficult job because she had all four fingers stuck very deep and we had to be so careful not to hurt her. She was very upset. We returned to check on her later the same day. You get attached when you rescue someone so young." Samantha added: "She was so brave. I had to make sure she didn't see me because I kept having a little cry. I think I'm more scared of bathtimes in there again than her. We are both very happy for now using the kitchen sink."