Woman falls into recyling bin

Firefighters called to a 'trapped person' call in Wainwright Road early on Wednesday couldn't believe the situation they found.

Crewmen forced the door of the Salvation Army clothing bin at the recycling bank with equipment normally used for freeing victims from road crashes - and a middle-aged woman walked out!

When the call came just before six in the morning, firefighters didn't know what to expect.

Leading Firefighter Dave Smith said later: "Her mate outside, who was a bit younger, was still laughing her head off when we got there...

"We were able to talk through the flap, which is about 16inches by 12 inches. The woman was right inside the bin. She told us she had been in there for about an hour.

"I said 'What happened?'

"She said 'I leaned in to get something and fell inside....'

"We couldn't get to the lock because it is protected by steel so we used our spreader equipment and forced the door.

"She'd gone in head first but had room to move about in the bin so she had got herself the right way up. She just walked out. She was unharmed."

Police attended the rescue and interviewed the woman, who has not been named, after she was freed.

Inspector Simon Nelson said: "It looks like she put some clothes into the recycling bin and her ring slipped off and went in.

"She tried to reach in to retrieve it and fell in."