POLICE in Tavistock were called to rescue a lady in her 70s who was stuck in a bog last Saturday (January 11).

At around 1.45pm the police control room received a call from a lady who reported that she was stuck on the moors. Mobile phone reception was poor and it was unclear initially where she was or why she was stuck.

Sgt Dave Anning said: 'After several calls it became evident she was stuck in mud and things became more serious when she was heard to say "It's now up to my..." and then the line dropped out.'

After a lot of rapid enquiries, including requests to mobile phone providers, it was established at around 2.15pm that the lady was not far from Brentor. The police helicopter was deployed as well as officers from Tavistock and Okehampton, and at 2.42pm the helicopter sighted the lady and directed officers to her.

Sgt Anning said that without the assistance of the helicopter, officers could have searched for hours and not located her.

When officers found the lady, she was completely stuck, up to her waist in thick mud and unable to move.

'She was in the course of a small river and had sunk into an unexpectedly deep section of mud,' said Sgt Anning.

'The depth and consistency of the mud was very unpredictable and clearly hazardous in places. Eventually, with assistance from a family of farmers, a ladder and even an old door, officers managed to reach the woman and slowly extract her from the mud.

'By 3pm she was safely back on solid ground and the farmers helped further by allowing her to shower and dry off at their home, and even provided her with fresh clothes.'

Sgt Anning said the lady suffered no serious injuries, just some bruising.

'An experienced walker, well equipped for most occasions, she was very unlucky to get trapped as she did, but the incident does serve as a reminder that even experienced, competent walkers can get into difficulties very suddenly on Dartmoor. Fortunately she had a mobile phone with her so she was able to reach it and call for help.'