TWO teenage girls have been rescued after getting stranded on a large rock in the River Swale in Richmond.

A swift water rescue team from Richmond, along with a fire engine from Leyburn, help the two girls, ages 14 and 15 from the boulder at around 3.30pm today.

The pair were walked to safety by fire crews using water rescue equipment.

The River Swale around Richmond Falls and Round Howe just outside the town are popular spots for youngsters to swim and dive in, but emergency services have repeatedly called for people to take care when playing in and around open water due to quickly changing conditions, and the water often being much colder than expected which could lead to difficulties when swimming.