A WEDDING ring had to be cut from an elderly woman after her hand swelled up.

The woman’s companions called the Park Road fire office at about 3.40pm yesterday to ask for advice, as they didn’t want to disturb the fire service.

The office immediately called Colchester fire station, where firefighters from blue watch were happy to help.

When they got to the property, in Berechurch Road, they discovered the elderly woman had two rings stuck on her fingers.

Firefighters managed to remove one of the rings with soap and water, but the other – a wedding ring which the woman had been wearing for 53 years – had to be cut free using small ring cutters.

A jeweller will be able to resize and mend the ring.