The RSPCA and the Fire Brigade had to help eight ducklings after they got caught beyond a stone gate. 

The ducklings were swimming downstream with their mother when they swam through a stone gate - a metal railing that collects debris flowing downstream. 

Shane Parkinson, the green watch manager at Kendal Fire and Rescue service said: 

"What the duck has done is gone under the stone grid as a duck would and the ducklings followed it and they became trapped.

"Although the duck can get back under the stones the ducklings could not.

"Obviously the mother wasn't going to leave her ducklings."

A member of the public phoned the RSPCA who then asked for assistance from Kendal Fire Station. 

Thankfully, the ducklings were saved after a little help from the team.

"Dan Richardson, one of the fire fighters, got a great wide bag and scooped the birds up and back into the river.

"The mother flew over and they were all re-united."

When asked why Kendal Fire Station assists the RSPCA with events such as this, Shane said:

"This is a man made barrier that has been put in their natural habitat. We've created the situation so we should help them.

"The advice of the RSPCA should be the first place to go, but we will assist with agencies if they can't get the animals."

Shane wanted to make one thing clear:

"Despite the stereotype, we do not respond to cat stuck up a tree calls.

"We only assist when there is no other place to go." 

Shane works for the green watch, which is one of the four watches (blue, white, and red) that the fire service operates. 

Although Kendal Fire Station used to solely operate as a fire service, the brigade now also takes on rescue operations. 

This means that they assist people, and sometimes animals, in distress in height and water. They also assist the police with missing people. 

Kendal Fire Station houses two fire engines, and two high volume pumps. These have been deployed in serious flooding incidents over the years.