A MEMBER of the public managed to hold on to a person who had accidentally fallen into the River Foss last night until emergency crews arrived on the scene to rescue them.

The member of the public called the fire service at just after 9.30pm after spotting the person in the water.

They were then able to hold onto the person until fire crews from both Tadcaster and Acomb arrived on the scene.

"A member of the public had seen the person in the water and called the fire service whilst holding onto them and did so until arrival of (fire) crews," a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said.

"Crews used throw lines and a ladder to pull (the) person out the water and then administered first aid until (an) ambulance arrived.

"(The) person was taken to hospital for a precautionary check up."