Goldfish rescued from flood water

Firefighters plan to keep Pearl if its owners can't be found

Firefighters who have been saving people from the floods have rescued a goldfish washed away by rising waters.

The six-inch fish was spotted swimming down Earl Street in Oxford as crews helped residents hit by the floods.

The rescue crew thought it could have been washed out of its usual home in a tank or bowl.

After encouraging the fish into a bucket, the firefighters found it a temporary home in a tank at Rewley Road fire station.

'Good home'

The crew have named the fish Pearl, after the street where it was found, and if the owner cannot be found they plan to keep it as the station pet.

Station manager Barry Stockford said: "We don't think that it's been micro-chipped (excuse the pun) so we can't trace its owner.

"If she's not been claimed within seven days then the RSPCA say that we can keep her and she will definitely go to a good home within the fire and rescue service.

"There is some irony in the fact that since last Friday we've been working hard to get people out of flood water and here we are trying to keep Pearl in water."