Lifeboat crews rescued a man clinging to the joists at Gravesend's Town Pier in the early hours of this morning.

They were called out after a man had jumped into the river and got stuck in the mud.

It is understood he was fleeing police at the time of the rescue.

The man was found clinging to the supportive joists under Town Pier, on West Street, Gravesend.

He was taken back to Gravesend lifeboat station, where he was later picked up by an ambulance.

The RNLI searched the area at 2.36am after reports of a man stuck in the mud between Town Pier and Royal Terrace Pier, in Royal Pier Road, Gravesend.

The man, thought to be in his 20s, was believed to be trying to flee police and jumped into the river.

He wasn't injured, but was very cold from his time in the water.

• Two 27-year-old men have been arrested after police were called to Struttons Avenue in Northfleet at 1.35am today, to reports of criminal damage. Both men were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, after a police and lifeboat search around Gravesend.

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