Firefighters came to the aid of a couple who were desperate to have their wedding rings removed.

The husband and wife from Radcliffe called into the Bury station this morning after swelling on their hands prevented them from removing the bands.

Stopping by at around 11.30am, the crew used a specialist ring cutter to help the couple, both in their 60s, remove the jewellery.

Bury crew manager Karl Grindrod said: “They both had swelling in their fingers and had gone to the jewellers but they couldn’t do anything.

“They have worn their rings since they were married, which was a long time ago.

“She said they were not getting divorced or anything like that but the pain was killing them.

 “We are used to helping elderly patients in nursing, but this is the first time a couple has turned up and asked us to cut off their wedding rings.”