EMERGENCY services have issued a warning about the dangers of flooding after a man and his 11-year-old nephew became stranded on an island in a fast-flowing river.

The anglers were trapped about 15 metres from the banks of the River Swale, at Great Langton, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, as floodwaters rose rapidly.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service sent teams from Richmond and Northallerton to the scene, at about 6.30pm on Sunday, but had to wait for a water rescue unit from York to arrive before they could reach the 35-year-old man and the boy.

They are understood to have become stranded on the island at about midday, but delayed calling the emergency services in the hope that the water would recede.

The officer in charge, divisional officer Colin Chadfield, said: "They were very calm and I am sure they were reassured by our presence and knew their ordeal would soon be over."

He said a more controlled rescue was appropriate, rather than risk injury to firefighters.

"Very soon after the arrival of the water rescue unit, we were able to send firefighters into the river and rescue the man and the boy.

"They were checked over by paramedics, and by 7.44pm they were on their way."

Mr Chadfield said that the rescue should serve as a warning to anyone trapped by flood-waters to contact the emergency services as soon as possible.

He said: "I would prefer we are called to perform a rescue and find our services are not needed, rather than find we were not called out until it was too late and we are facing a tragedy."