A man had to be rescued from a town centre river last night.

Firefighters were called to the River Medway, off Mill Street in Maidstone, shortly after 10pm after the man got into difficulty.

Three fire engines and the water safety unit attended the scene, and crews wore dry suits and used depth poles to reach the man and bring him to safety.

Following the rescue, firefighters are reminding people to take care around water.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "Rivers and lakes are often deeper than they look, and you can still get cold water shock if the temperature feels warms outside of the water.

"And, if you’re out with friends drinking alcohol, stay well away from water and make sure everyone gets home safe. Arrange lifts, get a taxi, or if you're walking - choose well-lit routes away from rivers, lakes or the coast.

"If you or someone else is in trouble in water call 999 immediately. For inland water rescue such as a lake or river, ask for the fire service, and for sea water rescue ask for the coastguard."