FIREFIGHTERS were called in to action yesterday to free three young men after they became trapped inside an industrial tumbler dryer.

Crews from Loughton and Harlow were called to a derelict laundry site in Bower Hill, Epping yesterday at 6.35pm (Friday 30 October).

Two of the men had already climbed into the tumble dryer when a third man's ankles became trapped in the door when he tried to crawl in after them.

Firefighters worked with Essex Police, Helicopter Medical Emergency Service and the Ambulance Service's Hazardous Area Response Team to rescue the men.

Watch Manager Glenn Jackson said: "Our crews, including some relatively new recruits, were excellent and worked really hard in arduous conditions.

"It was a difficult site to access and we had to carry a lot of heavy equipment a large distance from the appliances to the tumble dryer and then use our expertise to free the men safely.

"We used a range of equipment to free the casualty's ankles and allow him to crawl into the tumble dryer.

"he HEMS team gave him pain relief and we then managed to move the door, again using a range of equipment, so the men could crawl out.

"It was a really good joint effort, working with Essex Police, HEMS and HART, to bring the incident to a safe conclusion."

The men were left in the care of the Ambulance Service.