A pensioner got a ticking off from the fire brigade and coastguards after he was spotted wading through mud on the banks of the River Medway.

Strood firefighters were called to Medway Valley Leisure Park by the coastguard after they spotted the 70-year-old at about 2.50pm on Tuesday.

A short extension ladder was used to get the man across the mud because of fears he may sink as he made his way back.

He told firefighters he was searching for bottles.

Once he had his feet firmly on solid ground he was warned of the dangers of walking across the mud while the tide is out.

Martin Simmons, Strood’s blue watch crew manager, said: "I think he was genuinely shocked and didn’t realise the dangers of what he was doing.

"Although there was a low tide at the time it could have become a dangerous situation if he had become stuck in the mud and the tide had started to come in."