Bathers have been warned not to swim in the River Thames after a boy had to be rescued.

Systems administrator William Payne, 24, swam out to rescue a teenager who had got into difficulty by Wallingford Bridge on Sunday, May 13.

The boy, who was badly shocked and did not wait to give his details after the incident, had swam after a football.

But he was a poor swimmer and the strong current started dragging him under the water.

Mr Payne, of Mill Lane, Wallingford, who was playing soccer on the Crowmarsh bank, said: "We saw a football come under the bridge and a young lad waded out after it.

"He swam beyond half-way, but then started to splash about. He was close to the football but didn't seem to be doing anything to get it. He was trying to swim away from it."

Mr Payne, who has passed the Bronze Medallion life-saving test, ran down the bank, took off his T-shirt and then swam to help.

He said: "He kept going under just as I reached him. I was worried because I didn't want to have to do mouth to mouth, but luckily he came up again. He turned and seemed to look straight through me."

Mr Payne got him to the Wallingford bank where a friend of the boy helped pull him out.

The incident happened just yards from where another teenager drowned in September, 1999.

Paul Smith, of the Environment Agency, warned against swimming in the Thames.

He said: "Swimming in rivers is dangerous and should be avoided.

"The water at this time of year is very cold compared to air temperature and, after the wet winter, currents can remain strong in places."