EMERGENCY services vehicles including a search & rescue truck, two fire engines and a police car raced to the centre of Birkenhead after a woman "became caught" in gym equipment.

The alarm was sounded by staff at Rocky's Gym in Argyle Street, Birkenhead, at around 5pm on Tuesday.

The woman, whose left ankle was stuck in a cross-trainer, was freed by firefighters.

She was assessed by paramedics and taken to Arrowe Park Hospital.

Watch manager Steve Barrowman, who attended the call-out and is with Green Watch at Birkenhead Community Fire Station, said: "She was well and truly trapped when we arrived.

"Her left ankle was stuck on the right hand side of the machine.

"We used hand tools to start off with to dismantle the machine then we had to use an angle grinder to cut through a metal lug to free the bar trapping her leg. She was in good spirits when she was released."

A fire engine from Birkenhead Community Fire Station and the Search and Rescue Team, based at Croxteth Community Fire Station, attended the call-out.

It is not yet known how the woman became trapped in the apparatus.