Two men had to be rescued today after getting stuck up to their waists in Midland marshland in sub- zero temperatures.

The men, aged 27 and 21, were pulled to safety by fire crews using rope lines after being located by the police helicopter using a searchlight.

They were taking a short cut home across Puxton Marsh at  Kidderminster at about midnight but got into trouble after straying from the path.

One was trapped up his waist but another had sunk up to his chest in the marshland.

Snow had covered the footpath so they lost their bearings and ended up falling into the marsh, said Watch Commander Dave Blinston, of Kidderminster Fire Station.

The man stuck up to his waist used his mobile to call 999 after struggling for about five minutes.

By the time fire crews got there they had been trapped for about 30 minutes. It then took another 20 minutes to free them. They were suffering from the cold and taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for a check up.