LIFEBOAT crew from Teddington helped rescue a skip lorry driver from his vehicle after it fell in the Thames yesterday afternoon.

The man was left stranded in his cab as cold water reached up to the side window, preventing his escape from the truck which had toppled into the river at Twickenham.

The incident happened at around 3pm and onlookers think that the driver may not have seen the edge of the Flood Lane car park due to floodwater from high tides, causing the vehicle to slip into the river.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene and firefighters were able to secure the truck so it didn't fall further.

Teddington RNLI lifeboat crew then used a hammer from the fire engine to break the side window and helped the driver into a rescue boat.

London Fire Brigade Borough Commander John Snelgrove, who was at the scene, said: "The tide was at its highest point and the water was up to the driver's side window and prevented him from leaving the vehicle.

"Firefighters secured the skip lorry to stop it from moving further into the water.

"Thankfully the local RNLI crews arrived and using a hammer from the fire engine broke the passenger's side window and helped the man into the boat.

"Thankfully the man was uninjured. This usual incident shows the breadth of work fire crews deal with and good partnership working with key partner agencies."

The Fire Brigade was called at 15.17 and and the incident was over for firefighters by 15.56. Crews from Twickenham, Wimbledon and Heston fire stations attended.

Teddington RNLI tweeted: "Volunteer crew paged at 1526 to Twickenham to help @LondonFire free driver of a skip lorry that had slipped into the river and was trapped in his cab with water up to seat level.

"Lorry was secured by @LondonFire & crew helped him from the cab into the lifeboat to @Ldn_Ambulance."

Local photographer Ruth Wadey was on the scene and captured pictures of the stranded truck and firefighters called to help.

She told Twickenham Nub News: "It's crazy! Dozens of ambulances, police cars, and fire engines here!

"All is cordoned off now as they are trying to recover the driver and lorry, I could see the driver moving around in the front of the vehicle."