The families of two 11-year-old Bradford boys who were trapped after falling down a disused railway embankment today paid tribute to the firefighters who rescued them.

Kieran McCallion and Jamie Shields were playing at the former station in Station Street, Pudsey, when they fell more than 25ft. The pair, who live in Kesteven Road, Holme Wood, had to cling on to trees for 40 minutes while their friend Stephen Rieny went for help.

Firefighters worked for half an hour using a rescue line and sling to pull the boys to safety.

They said the pair, who had gone through an old railway tunnel, were lucky not to have been seriously injured in the incident on Saturday evening.

Pudsey Sub Officer Richard Hagger said: "The boys had been playing on the bank at the old railway station when two of them fell back.

"Their friend ran into a nearby pub to get help and they had to cling on to some trees for dear life to stop themselves falling another 20ft. They were both frightened but very glad to get out. They were extremely lucky that they weren't injured.

"We contacted their parents who were shocked to find out what had happened and where they had ended up."

Nina McCallion, Kieran's mother, said: "I was frightened to death when I heard what had happened. I think they were both very scared after falling down the steep hill. We're just grateful to the fire brigade for rescuing them. It really is a miracle that they weren't seriously hurt."

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