A MISCHIEVOUS youngster got himself in a spin when he got stuck in the family washing machine and had to be rescued by ten firefighters. Eight-year-old Patrick Grieves' older sister, Jade, dared him to climb into the machine's drum but the schoolboy landed himself in hot water when he clambered in feet first and got stuck.

A MISCHIEVOUS youngster got himself in a spin when he got stuck in the family washing machine and had to be rescued by ten firefighters.

Eight-year-old Patrick Grieves' older sister, Jade, dared him to climb into the machine's drum but the schoolboy landed himself in hot water when he clambered in feet first and got stuck.

Patrick's panicking mum, Susan Grieves, of Halstead then spent 15 minutes trying to pull her sobbing son out of the machine, but when that failed she dialled 999.

The two crews spent another 20 minutes jiggling Patrick around in the washing machine until they managed to pull him out.

Patrick said: “It was very scary. The firemen got me out in the end. I said thank you to them. I've got a bruise on my leg but I am fine.

“I'm scared of the washing machine now, I'm afraid of it. I'm not going to get into it again.”

Jade, 11, revealed she had been grounded and has also been put on washing-up duty for the next fortnight.

Halstead station officer Nigel Acres said: “The first thing we did when we got there was calm him down and once we had done that it was half the battle won. After that we twisted the drum and were able to get him in a position where he could be pulled back out.”