FAST-acting firefighters have warned the public to avoid building and work sites after two children had to be rescued from mud this afternoon.

The two young boys had been playing on a recently dug unstable mound of soil at around 3.43pm on February 18 when they became stuck and began to slowly sink.

Crews from Whitefield and Broughton along with the water incident unit from Heywood and the technical response unit and major rescue unit from Ashton-Under-Lyne found the boys waist deep in the mud, in Philips Park in Park Lane, Whitefield.

Station manager Paul Fearnhead who took charge of the rescue said: “The boys had climbed on soil that had recently been moved and made unstable by a digger.

“We would advise people, especially in these wet conditions to avoid building and work sites or any areas that have recently had industrial work. There are lots of unforeseen dangers to consider.”

Firefighters rescued the casualties using specialist personal protection equipment, the mud lance from the Water Incident Unit, short extension ladders and trench boards.

Crews were in attendance for one hour and forty minutes, and both boys were rescued safely.