FOUR young children had to be rescued after becoming trapped in mud.

The youngsters, including a girl, were playing on marsh land off Roach Street at Blackford Bridge on Sunday (March 17) when they got stuck.

One of the boys used his mobile phone to alert his mother to their predicament. She called the fire brigade.

Crews from Bury and Whitefield arrived at 12.30pm and used ropes and life-jackets to secure the children until they were rescued.

Three were walked to safety while the fourth was dug out of the thick mud.

None of the four, aged between eight and ten, has been named. They were checked over by paramedics before being reunited with their parents.