FIRE crews had to rescue a sheep that had jumped into the River Ribble near the Spread Eagle, Sawley, this morning.

A crew from Clitheroe and a specialist water rescue team from Nelson were called to the river at around 10am.

A farmer had made the call after one of his sheep had made its way on to an island near a bridge crossing over the river.

Attempts were made to rescue the sheep from the bridge, but it ended up heading back into the water and had to be pulled out unharmed by the fire crews.