A drowning sheep up to its neck in water was plucked from a pond by firefighters in a heartwarming rescue.

Pensioner Norman Brice spotted the sheep struggling to stay afloat and a woman attempting to rescue it in a field between Appledore Road and Woodchurch Road, Tenterden.

He said: "The sheep was just floundering and right up to its neck in water. It was horrible to watch and if the fire brigade hadn't arrived it would have soon succumbed to the cold and the water."

Kent Fire and Rescue's specialist animal rescue unit saved the sheep along with the RSPCA, following a call from Mr Brice on Monday.

Crews used an inflatable platform to reach the sheep and pluck it from the pond, which was 30 metres in circumference.

A Kent Fire and Rescue spokesman said the service always attends when there is a risk that a member of the public could be injured attempting to rescue an animal.

Crews attended at 1.16pm and used a reach and rescue pole to drag the sheep to safety after it had become trapped in underwater vegetation.