Girl, aged 4, found in burn at 4am

A FOUR-year-old girl was pulled to safety after she was found screaming in a burn in the early hours.

The child was rescued from the water at 4.20am on Tuesday after residents in Dalmellington, Ayrshire, were awoken by her cries.

Locals said a man who lives next to the spot where the youngster was seen climbed down into the water to free the distraught child.

She was taken to Ayr Hospital for treatment, though her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

One woman said: ‘The man heard her screaming. He ran out, climbed down, picked her up and passed her up to his partner. The girl was just standing there in the water crying.

‘Nobody has any idea how she got out of her house or how she got over the fence and down into the burn.’

The incident took place in Waterside Street, which backs onto the burn, flanked by a 4ft high fence.

It is not yet known how the youngster came to be wandering alone near the water, which runs through the centre of the town. Though the burn is only inches deep, the youngster would have fallen 5ft to end up in the water.

Police Scotland said an investigation is continuing. A spokesman added: ‘At 4.20am on Tuesday, police received a report of a child, believed to be four years old, having fallen into water.’