A BOY had to be pulled out of a swamp after trying to flee police.

Officers spotted two youths on a motorbike being ridden along the Rainford bypass.

The first boy tried to escape officers by throwing himself into a nearby swamp, police say.

He was fished out with a rope a short time later by officers and was unharmed.

Two boys were subsequently arrested by police.

In a social media posts police in St Helens joked: “Unfortunately, at this stage the males cannot be named, so we will refer to this male as 'Shrek' due to his fondness for swamps. 

“The second male surrendered quite easily, we will refer to this male as ‘Donkey’."

The two boys were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and other offences under the road traffic act.

Police added: “Someone's mum is going to be very mad when she sees the state of his tracksuit. Not long till Christmas.”