A cyclist was pulled from a river in Yalding this morning and his rescuers believe he may have been in the water overnight.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to water near Laddingford, close to The Chequers Inn, just before 11am.

It is believed he was stuck in the River Teise, which runs behind the pub.

The man, believed to be in his early 60s, was freed by firefighters who helped him back up the steep bank where he was treated by ambulance staff at the scene.

An ambulance service spokesman said he was reported to have hurt his leg but declined hospital treatment.

Charles Leaver, landlord at The Chequers Inn, said he was told the man had got caught in brambles and toppled off his bike.

Mr Leaver said: "Firefighters told me the man had been cycling along an unlit footpath at some stage, either last night or in the early hours of his morning, in the dark.

"They said he got caught in some brambles and fell into the river."

The rescue comes the day after we revealed thieves have been stealing life buoys and other safety equipment from the banks of the River Medway.

Lees Road is one of the locations where Maidstone Borough Council provides the lifesaving equipment.

The council has been forced to spend more than £7,000 replacing 200 stolen items since last April.