FIREFIGHTERS used a rescue boat to help the occupants of a pleasure cruiser which began to sink on the River Ouse near Clifton Bridge, York.

Two people on the 33ft boat, named The Chase, jumped to safety on the riverbank when it started taking on water at about 8pm yesterday.

Officers from York Fire Station used their boat to tow the partially-sunk vessel to safety and out of the main river channel.

No one was injured in the incident.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: "Although the boat had taken on a lot of water, we managed to tow it to a safe mooring."

Updated: 14:01 Wednesday, July 16, 2003