A HERO policeman staged a dramatic rescue operation after a car plunged into the river at Laverstock leaving a teenage girl trapped inside.

The car, with two brothers and the girl in it, left the road at the junction of Riverside Road and The Avenue on Saturday evening, struck a tree, and then spun round before ploughing bonnet first into the River Bourne.

One of the brothers managed to scramble on to the bank while the other got on to the back of the car, which was sticking out of the water.

But the 17-year-old girl, injured and semi-conscious, was trapped inside the VW Golf hatchback, which was almost totally submerged.

PC Simon Woodrow was on patrol in Bishopdown Farm when the call came through just after 8.30pm and he was on the scene within minutes.

Removing his heavy equipment and flak jacket, he waded in. PC Woodrow said: "The water was cold and was getting deeper.

"The man on the back of the car was screaming 'she's inside, get her out, get her out'.

"I asked the man to get off the car and get to the bank because I needed him out of the way.

"I tried the driver's door but it would not budge and the passenger side was caved right in.

"I went round to the back and saw a teenage girl, partly submerged in the water and trapped between the front and rear seats.

"She was semi-conscious and I could see her legs were trapped.

"I tried to smash the window with my truncheon but could not.

"I managed to climb through the broken rear hatchback and reach her and I checked for injuries."

Fully trained in first aid, PC Woodrow first managed to clear the girl's airways and then manoeuvred her gently towards the parcel shelf.

"I was able to hold her head above water and keep her calm.

"I could hear sirens so I knew help was on the way."

PC Woodrow spent around 15 minutes in the freezing water and remained with the girl until two paramedics arrived and waded out to the stricken car.

They were able to get the girl out and take her and PC Woodrow back to the safety of the bank.

Firefighters from Salisbury also assisted and after the occupants had been rescued they secured a rope around the car so it could be dragged out of the river.

The three occupants of the car were then all taken to hospital where the girl was detained with fractured ribs, fractured pelvis and a punctured lung.

Both brothers were treated for minor injuries and severe shock before being released.