A teenage boy had to be rescued by firefighters after getting stuck on the roof of a two-storey building.

The youngster, aged 13, had scaled a drainpipe to retrieve a football that had landed on top of a block of flats at Otterden Close, Stanhope at 1.20pm yesterday.

The fire service had to be called and a fire engine was sent to the scene when the boy realised he couldn't get back down.

Watch manager Mark Thomas said: "The lad had climbed up the drainpipe to get a football and then couldn't get back down.

"We pitched the ladder and helped walk him back down."

Onlooker Mark Smith said: "He was with his friends so he thought it would be clever to climb up there.

"There were lots of kids out watching."