Sinking car sparks alert

A car rolled into a Black Country canal sparking a race to the scene by 999 crews to reports of a sinking vehicle.

Firefighters dived in to the water to make sure there was no one trapped inside the Renault Laguna which was spotted in the Wyrley & Essington Canal, off Nest Common in Norton Road, Pelsall, yesterday at around 7.15am.

No-one was found and it is unknown whether the car simply rolled in or whether it was pushed in by yobs.

Passers-by raised the alarm.

Only the open boot of the M-reg car could be seen when crews arrived.

A spokesman from the fire service said: "It is unclear how the car came to be in the canal, once we had confirmed there were no casualties the incident was left with the police."