Emergency services descended on the River Thames.

It was part of a training exercise led by Gravesend RNLI near Erith Pier earlier today.

Teams successfully rescued a weighted dummy which was stuck in the mud in what has been called Operation Mudlark.

The RNLL were joined by the police helicopter, London Fire Brigade, Kent Police and paramedics.

Gravesend RNLI Thames commander Liam Sidders stressed the importance of this rare operation.

Cdr. Sidders said: “Our RNLI volunteers often train with other agencies but not usually to this scale, the opportunity to integrate with other emergency services is vital using the Joint Emergency Service Interoperability Programme.

"The scenario of a person in the water is a familiar one to our four River Thames RNLI lifeboat stations. If you spot someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

The exercise was headed up by a Gravesend RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboat and included LFB Fireboat Errington, a SECAMB quick response vehicle, a Met Police boat called Police Marine III.

The last time a multi-agency exercise took place was February 2019 when exercise 'Overboard' was conducted by Gravesend RNLI and coordinated by London Coastguard.