A SHEEP had to be rescued from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal close to the Whitebirk roundabout in Blackburn.

Firefighters were called to help the ‘shivering’ animal which had managed to get stuck in the water, at around 10am yesterday.

Crew manager Rob Birtwistle said: “We have no idea how it got there, maybe it had gone down for a drink.

“It was very cold and shivering.

“We don’t know who it belonged to, the RSPCA are tracing the owner from the tag in its ear.

“We wrapped it up in one of our space blankets but the RSPCA said it would be fine.”