EMERGENCY services were called to rescue a woman from the River Foss in York.

The 33-year-old woman was reported as entering the river by a passer by, in Fossgate, close to the Blue Bicycle restaurant, at about 4.40pm today.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the woman was in a distressed state, and a member of the public stayed close to her until the fire brigade, ambulances and police arrived at the scene, but had been unable to help her out of the river.

She was assisted from the river by a fisherman and left in the care of the emergency services by 4.50pm.