FIREFIGHTERS came to the rescue in a slightly unusual way while undertaking a training exercise in Malmesbury.

During a water rescue training session on Monday, April 29, around 18 firefighters from Malmesbury Fire Station helped fix a broken weir on the River Avon to prevent further loss of wildlife.

A gaggle of nesting swans lost their signets last year when rushing water came through the broken wooden shutter and drowned many of the tiny birds.

Concerned resident Diana Gray was determined to prevent this from happening again so called on the community for help..

Two local companies, AC Nurdens and Sweetnam and Bradley, offered to source some material to replace the missing wooden crest shutter but were unable to fix the issue due to the dangers associated with working in the water.

So when Mrs Gray spotted the firefighters undertaking training  in the river she seized the opportunity and asked whether they would be able to help save the signets from a bad fate.

To her delight the firefighters were able to incorporate the weir into their training exercise and Mrs Gray, along with representatives from both companies, watched the crew perform a skilful rescue with colleagues from Stratton Fire Station.

After everything was completed, the swans were able to paddle safely into the calmer water.  

Chris Harvey, watch manager at Malmesbury Fire Station, said: "The team were undertaking a refresher water rescue skill session in the River Avon next to Station Yard, which included search and rescue techniques and throw line training, when Mrs Gray asked for our help. 

"She was concerned about the swans which were incubating eggs on their nest next to the weir and she had been trying to get the weir fixed for some time. 

"We were able to incorporate the repair into our training session and those who took part were able to see first hand how a small change in the construction of something, in this case the weir, totally changed the dynamics of the flow of the water. 

"Malmesbury has a lot of rivers and many areas frequently flood so water rescues are not uncommon for us. "