FIREFIGHTERS rescued a man in his 60s from the River Aire at Keighley this afternoon.

The man was working as a volunteer removing debris from a section of the river when he slipped and injured his leg.

He managed to clamber onto some rocks and the alarm was raised.

Fire crews – including specialist water rescue pumps – attended from Keighley, Bingley, Shipley and Leeds.

They were called out to the incident – on a stretch of river close to Aireworth Grove, Stockbridge – shortly before 2pm.

"The man had been trying to remove some plastic meshing when he lost his footing," said Keighley Fire Station watch commander, Jon Macdonald.

"He was fully conscious and despite hurting his leg, was in good spirits and talking to us.

"We helped him from the rocks, which were about five metres from the bank, and back to dry land.

"He was then taken by ambulance to hospital for a check-up."

The crews spent about 20 minutes at the scene.