The three people were stuck in mud on the banks of the River Orwell near Ipswich were waist-deep in rising water, the RNLI said.

Five fire crews, police, the RNLI at Harwich and the ambulance service were called to the riverbank near Orwell Country Park shortly after 5pm on Thursday.

Fire engines from Ipswich East, Woodbridge and Princes Street stations were dispatched to the scene.

The RNLI later revealed that two adults and a child had become trapped in the mud, with the water level starting to rise.

The trio were taken to Orwell Yacht Club at Fox's Marina for treatment.

RNLI volunteer Leam Donn said: "It was inspiring to be a part of such a multi-agency operation with different teams working together seamlessly – as well as ourselves there must have been four coastguard teams, crews from Suffolk Fire and Rescue, and paramedics.

"This is why we train twice a week for different scenarios. It’s not very often we get people stuck in mud round here, but this service went well working as a team.

"The helm managed to get the lifeboat really close allowing us to extract the people from the mud and water and get them to dry land, where they could be checked over by paramedics. All in all, a job well done by everyone involved."