Unusually attired heroes over the years

The sight of Lucy Reis springing into action wearing a ballgown last weekend might have caused some onlookers look twice.

But it isn’t the first time daring rescues have been carried out by people decked out in something out of the ordinary.

Ballgowns were the order of the day in January when a group of ladies returning from a hunt ball in Kent rushed to the aid of a horse rider who had been knocked unconscious.

Three women sporting their gladrags spotted Alison Bywater motionless in a field after her horse slipped while she was out riding.

Last June, two friends wearing Batman and Robin costumes became real-life heroes when they rescued a kite surfer who had got into difficulties at Shoreham Beach.

David Schneider and Derren Guile had been kayaking in their costumes for a special superhero paddle event, but in true Only Fools and Horses style, were called into action for real.

In Coventry in 2014, bypassers were shocked to see a zebra and a monkey tackle a would-be assailant.

Off-duty police constables Tracy Griffin and Terri Cave had been wearing safari animal onesies and were on their way to a party when they spotted a drunk man threatening women in the street.

They restrained the man until colleagues arrived.