The firefighters also rounded up two other pigs that had escaped and made a temporary pen out of picnic tables to keep them safe until their owner arrived to collect them.

Mark Caine, watch manager at Ascot Drive fire station, said it was the first time he had rescued a pig.

"The RSPCA was already in attendance by the time we arrived," he said.

"The pig had got loose from a neighbouring farm and had got into the water.

"When we got there, the RSPCA had managed to get a line round the pig and were supporting it near the bank with some buoyancy aids.

"We then pulled it out manually using some fire service lines.

"Luckily we did not have to get into the water."

He said firefighters then rounded up the two other pigs that had escaped and waited until police had managed to contact the farmer.

"We made a pen with picnic tables and a fence as we did not want them getting into the main road and causing an accident," said Mr Caine.

"We then loaded them all onto a trailer when the farmer arrived."