FIREFIGHTERS raced to the banks of the River Mersey to save three people who became stranded in the river in Widnes.

At around midday yesterday, Saturday, fire crews from Widnes, Warrington, Runcorn, Penketh and Lymm were called to Mersey View Road.

A water incident unit from Warrington and a rope rescue unit and aerial ladder platform from Lymm also arrived at the scene.

Crews worked with other agencies, including RNLI, to rescue the people who were left in the care of North West Ambulance Service.

Firefighters were at the scene for around four hours.