A woman had to be rescued from a river in west Dorset after falling from a height and hurting her back.

She fell into the River Lim at around 1.30am this morning and had to be lifted out of the water by firefighters before a specialist rescue team brought her up a steep bank.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service said: "Appliances from Charmouth Fire Station, Lyme Regis Fire Station, Axminster Fire Station and the Technical Rescue Team from Weymouth Fire Station along with HM Coastguard were mobilised to a person stuck in the water in the River Lim.

"The individual had fallen from height into the river and was reporting back pain.

"Crews lifted the casualty out of the water and kept them warm whilst the tech rescue team set up a rescue system to bring the casualty up the steep sided bank before handing over to the ambulance service."

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: "HM Coastguard assisted the South Western Ambulance Service and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service with an incident involving a woman who had fallen into the River Lim at around 1am Sunday, May 26.

"Lyme Regis and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams were on scene. The woman was brought to safety by the fire and rescue service and passed to the care of the Ambulance Service.

South Western Ambulance Service has been contacted for more information.