TWO Queens Park workers leapt to the rescue of a wheelchair bound pensioner and her daughter as they plummeted down a grassy bank and into the lake.

Cliff Davidson and Keith Challinor were preparing to open the boat hire service when they heard cries of distress.

They saw that the chair in which the 85-year-old woman was sitting was rolling down the steep slope towards the water.

The daughter was desperately trying to control it but her attempts were in vain as both hurtled down the bank and were thrown head over heals into the water.

Cliff and Keith jumped straight into the lake to help the unfortunate women out of their predicament.

The local heroes pulled them to safety and retrieved the wheelchair.

"The elderly lady wasn't sure what happened and kept asking why she was wet" said Cliff.

"Her daughter was very distressed and it looked as though she had dislocated her finger and injured her hands by trying to stop the wheelchair from rolling," he added.

Park Ranger, Mick Clowes was called in to take charge of the situation and an ambulance arrived to take the ladies to Leighton Hospital to check on their conditions.

Leisure Department spokeswoman, Elaine Dodd said the women had praised the two park workers for their actions.

"We are also extremely happy with the rapid response from the staff. They acted within seconds," she added.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.