London, Apr 4 (Agencies) : Firefighters have rescued a 16-year-old girl who became stuck in a storm drain while trying to retrieve her mobile phone.

Ella Birchenough tried to pull herself out of the hole in Dover, Kent, but panicked when she became wedged.

Tim Richards saw Ms Birchenough stuck up to her waist while he was driving home from work and pulled over to help.

"It's not the type of thing you see every day. It was pretty weird," he said.

"She was more concerned about getting her phone back rather than getting herself out of the drain.

"My mum knows her mum and she went to call on her. She was a bit panicky thinking Ella was going to sink, but when she came down to see she saw the funny side."

Recounting her ordeal, Ms Birchenough said: "I was talking to somebody and I went to put my phone in my pocket and it fell down the drain.

"I thought to myself, 'I'm not leaving this' and I jumped down to get it. I wasn't really even stuck, I just needed somebody to help lift me out but my mum got all panicky.

"When they pulled me out I ran straight home and jumped in the bath. I think it was just water but I wasn't taking any chances."

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "A teenage girl was released by firefighters from a storm drain where she had become stuck in Eaves Road, Dover.

"Crews then made the scene safe. The girl was uninjured."