A child and parent have been rescued from the river Rheidol in Aberystwyth this afternoon following a large emergency services response.

The incident was first reported at 11.44am and police, fire, coastguard and ambulance crews converged on Penybont bridge near Morrisons shortly after midday, and a coastguard search and rescue helicopter was seen circling Blaendolau playing fields.

Both Aberystwyth RNLI lifeboats were launched to assist in the search.

At 12.45pm the lifeboat team tweeted: "Both boats were launched this morning to assist the Dyfed-Powys Police and coastguard in a search for missing child believed to have fallen into the river.

"The child and a second casualty have been rescued from the river by MAWW Fire & Rescue Service - Squad 01-20, and are with paramedics being checked over. Lifeboat has been stood down and returning to station."

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Emergency services were called to Aberystywth just before midday to reports a child and a parent had entered the river Rheidol. Both have been located and are now out of the river.”

A spokesperson for the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 11.44am a Swift Water Rescue Team from Aberystwyth Fire Station was deployed to an incident at Heol y Bont, Aberystwyth, following reports of a child entering the river.

"The crew rescued a boy and an adult female from the river using a rescue sled, throw bags and a floating line."

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at approximately 11.45am to reports of a person having fallen in a river in Aberystwyth.

"We responded with one rapid response vehicle, one emergency ambulance and we received the support of the Wales Air Ambulance.

"Two patients are currently being assessed by our crews.”