A woman and four children have been rescued from a canoe as it drifted near a weir.

The rescue has prompted the fire service to warn people to take care as the current in the River Thames remains strong following recent flooding.

The incident happened just after 7pm on Saturday night, when firefighters received a call that a woman and four children were stuck in a canoe under the bridge at Tidmarsh Lane in Oxford.

On arrival at the scene, the crew from Rewley Road fire station and the rescue tender from Kidlington found the canoe had become lodged against the bridge immediately before the weir at Oxford prison.

They attached ropes to the craft and bought the canoe and its occupants safely to the bank. The party were helped out of the canoe, but suffered no injuries.

Following the incident, a fire service spokesman said: "This incident highlights the need for care when on the river as the currents are still very strong despite the fact that it is summer.

"Had the lady not stopped the canoe under the bridge, it would have gone onto the weir probably throwing the occupants into the strong river currents."

**Firefighters also dealt with two car fires on Saturday evening, one in Cottesmore Road, Oxford and the other opposite the nature reserve in Long Wittenham.