SHOCKED tourists watched as a ten-year-old girl was at the centre of a dramatic rescue from quicksand after getting trapped up to her waist.

The incident happened at Sandyhills near Dalbeattie, which is popular with families and young children, in Dumfries and Galloway at about 11.30am yesterday.

Firefighters used specialist rescue equipment to reach the girl and release her in an operation that took about an hour.

As the drama unfolded, a crowd of holidaymakers gathered to watch.

A yellow inflatable device was used to bring the child to safety and a quad-bike was also on the scene. She was taken on a special stretcher covered in a foil blanket to keep her warm by a group of firefighters and the ambulance crew who smiled with relief at the successful outcome of the operation.

She was comforted by ambulance crew in the car-park at the beach before being taken to Dumfries Infirmary for treatment, but she is not thought to be seriously injured.

Coastguard and police also helped in the rescue in which firefighters used an inflatable "ice path" to make a safe passage to the girl. They used a "sand lance" to pump water into the sand to allow them to release her.

The initial call to the emergency services said that two young people were stuck in the sand, but one managed to get free and tried to help the other before help arrived.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "Fortunately the tide was out, or it could've been more serious. The girl was up to her waist.

"We sent two fire engines and a rescue boat and used ice paths to make a path to and from the rescue scene, and a sand lance which makes the sand softer and easier to get the person out."

Sandyhills caravan site warden Andy Thomas helped ferry equipment to the scene on his quad bike and trailer.

He said: "The girl was stuck up to the waist in the mud.

"Luckily the tide was out at the time or it could have been completely different.

"There are signs up there warning people about the treacherous tides and you've got to be careful when you're on the coast."

Sandyhills is to the south of Dalbeattie.

The rural area has many holiday homes and parks in the local area and is popular with tourists thanks to its views across to the Isle of Man and the Lake District on a clear day.

However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) warns of the dangers of Sandyhills on its website.

It describes the beach as one that is easily accessible and the arc of fine sand slopes gently towards the water. However, it urges people to check tide times before venturing onto it because of the dangers.

The site states that during low tide there is a sandy area for approximately 200 metres. The beauty spot has no lifeguard.

However it warns: "As this beach sits on a transitional water, mud flats are exposed at low tide making the water's edge difficult to access in certain areas, as well as exposing areas of quicksand." The site also warns that the tidal regime at Sandyhills can be dangerous for beach users.