Sheep and lambs rescued from freezing water in Staffordshire

Sheep and lambs have been rescued from a freezing body of water after falling into an icy canal yesterday afternoon.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called by the farmer to rescue the animals, which were stranded in Caldon Canal near Endon.

It is believed that the sheep are not injured and are now safe.

A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "Leek water rescue team have been out braving the elements to rescue a sheep and her twin lambs from the frozen waters of the Caldon Canal.

"Crews tried to warm the sheep up before the farmer collected them to give them further care."

Snow and ice dubbed 'the Beast from the East' has hit much of the UK, bringing an extreme weather front from Russia.

Some rural communities have experienced power delays and isolation because of the weather.