John Dennis was playing out with his friends when he fell into a pool of water and his legs became trapped in a pipe.

With water up to his neck, friend George Carr held his chin out of the water while another boy Joseph Titterington ran to the family farm for help.

John's parents Andrea and Steven Dennis rushed straight down to the stream where it took the combined strength of the two adults and the two boys to lift John to safety.

Steven said: "The fast current pulled him into a culvert, he was caught in it with his legs bent back which stopped him going further down it.

"But the force of the water was trying to suck him down, it was about 4ft deep and John's legs were taken away from him so that he couldn't support himself to get out.

"His two friends (both 11) acted very sensibly and realised what had happened. They acted very impressively and did exactly the right thing"
John was rescued suffering from cold and shock, and had sustained cuts and bruises to his legs and waist.

The incident happened in the stream that runs only a short way from the Dennis's farm, off Birkwith Lane, Low Bentham, at 4pm on Saturday.

Steven said: "I think afterwards they were all very shaken and realised the gravity of the situation and how serious it could have been
"It was a dangerous situation and his friends certainly acted in a very responsible fashion and with bravery and courage."

John and his friends are in Year 7 at Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale.