A woman has been rescued from a river in Wisbech.

The woman, in her 60s, is believed to have been in the River Nene, near to the Old Market, for 40 minutes. She is conscious and breathing and has been taken to Queen Elizabeth Hopsital.

She was spotted by an off duty police officer, who threw her a life ring.

One fire crew from Wisbech attended and helped with the rescue.

Station commander Gavin Hammond said: “An off-duty police officer had seen the woman in the river and had thrown her a life ring. His actions most certainly will have contributed to the successful rescue of the woman, who we think was in the water for about 40 minutes. The water is very cold and so she was very lucky.

“A specially in-water trained firefighter, who was tethered, swam to rescue the woman and brought her nearer to the river’s edge, where the rest of the crew could safely rescue her.”

An East of England Ambulance spokesman said: “We were called at 12.24pm today to a report of a person in the water off Old Market, Wisbech.

“An ambulance crew and an ambulance officer attended to treat a woman in her 60s.

“She was conscious and breathing and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn for further care.”