Four people were rescued from the log flume at West Midland Safari Park after it broke down.

The flume car had just started going up the ramp when it suddenly stopped, leaving the thrill-seekers stuck halfway up.

The group were helped off the ride at the attraction in Bewdley by safari park staff within a matter of minutes. The four were forced to walk down a metal maintenance path at the side of the track to get down.

Visitor Frank Cutler, of Kelsall Close, Deansfield, Wolverhampton, watched the rescue yesterday afternoon. He said: “The log went up the first ramp of the log flume and just stopped.

“They were stuck for about five minutes before they were helped off. The ride was working again later.”

In a seperate incident, a teenage girl was rescued from the lake in Stourbridge’s Mary Stevens Park. Police and fire crews were called to the park at 10 o’clock last night after receiving calls that a girl had been seen in the water. The 15-year-old was brought out of the lake by fire crews and was unharmed.

Watch commander Brian Morris, from Stourbridge Fire Station, said: “We had to go into the water to bring her out and we had to wear life-saving jackets. She appeared to be in distress and possibly could have been under the influence of alcohol at the time.”

Mr Morris said police had been able to calm her down. West Midlands Police spokesman Joanne Hunt confirmed officers had been called to the park.

“The girl is now back at home and none the worse for her experience. Police are not treating the matter as suspicious,” she said.

Police did not know how the girl came to be in the water.