A 12-year-old girl today relived the moment she was plucked to safety by firefighters as she sank chest-deep in mud on a York building site.

Carrie Storr thanked her rescuers, who issued a strong warning to children to beware quagmire conditions across the region.

Building sites and riverbanks will be exceptionally dangerous over next week's half-term holiday following the wet winter weather, said fire service assistant divisional officer John Swires.

Health and safety experts were today looking into the drama which unfolded around Carrie, of Seventh Avenue, Tang Hall.

Events began when she went on to Alfred McAlpine's Hayfields building site, off Fossway, Heworth, climbed on to a seven-foot high pile of mud and started sinking.

A 12-year-old boy ran to get help and neighbour Tony Clarke, of Muncastergate, came to assist, but he got stuck in the mud as well.

Firefighters, police and ambulance workers were called at around 7pm last night, and found Carrie up to her chest in the mud and slowly sinking.

Leading firefighter Mike Wilson, based at York Fire Station, said: "When we arrived it was very dark and round the back of the first set of houses they are building there was a heap of soil about six to eight foot high.

"We could only walk so far so we used a rescue path (an inflatable rubber path used to rescue people from ice or boggy ground) to get to them. It would have been impossible to walk on, it would have been dangerous."

"We couldn't just pull her out. When you have got something so wet you get suction. We had to try and dig down.

"Every time we tried to dig the girl out first, he (Mr Clark) was sliding down on top of her with his weight. The mud oozed, filling the holes where we were trying to get her out.

Carrie, who was shaken and tired but unhurt today, thanked her rescuers.

"I am very grateful and would like to say thanks. I told the man not to go any further but he did."

She said she had run on to the site through an open gate after leaving her friend's house. Carrie's father David said: "She was covered in mud from her feet to her hair, she was shaking and shivering."

Her mum Ann said Carrie's boots and coat had had to be thrown away, but she had managed to wash her school uniform.

She said: "They're replaceable but she's not replaceable. We're very grateful."

Alfred McAlpine were unavailable for comment.

Updated: 12:50 Wednesday, February 14, 2001