A WOMAN had to be rescued by firefighters after trying to pluck her dog from a canal.

Julie Wade braved the murky waters near The Wharf, Blackburn, about 2pm on Saturday in a bid to save her alsatian Brambles.

The 28-year-old was in the water for 20 minutes before firemen Gordon Mitchell and Colin Western were called in to help. She raised the alarm by using her mobile phone after failed attempts by her fiance to get her out.

"I was really cold and aching all over afterwards but I am extremely grateful," said Julie. "Brambles just slipped in so I had to go in after her but there were steel girders under the water so I couldn't get out.

"I was very uncomfortable thinking what there might be under the water. My T-shirt was soaking and my underwear didn't hold up very well so I was very embarrassed."

The call-out was a belated birthday treat for Julie, a self-confessed fireman fan. She had a picture taken on a fire engine at Witton Park seven years ago -- and it was the same firefighters who rescued her.

"I couldn't believe it when I realised it was the same firefighters. I was chuffed to bits and took a photo with my phone. I had even joked with my friends that they hadn't managed to get me a fire engine for my birthday on Thursday!"

Julie of Fishmoor Drive, Blackburn, turned up at the station on Saturday with a thank you card and box of chocolates.

Station Officer Keith Cunliffe said: "She was really embarrassed but she was lucky she had the strength to carry on hanging on."