AN airline worker from Romanno Bridge helped save a woman's life on Boxing Day by swimming down a flooded river to rescue her.

And another have-a-go hero, teacher Keith Russell, also jumped into the swollen stream to prevent the woman from drowning.

Jamie Simmons dived into the fast-flowing Lyne Water after witnessing the woman fall from a nearby bridge.

Both men fought through the strong current to reach her before she drowned.

Jamie's father, Michael, also waded through the icy-cold river to help with the recovery.

The drama unfolded early on Boxing Day afternoon as heavy rain yet again battered the region.

Flood warnings had been issued for several water courses across Peeblesshire.

With the Lyne Water close to bursting its banks a woman fell from a bridge on the edge of the hamlet just before 1.30pm.

Mr Simmons junior was driving past when he witnessed the fall.

After turning his car he managed to spot the woman's head amidst the torrent.

Father Michael said: "He saw the woman's head bobbing down the river.

"Jamie ran down to the bank and dived in. He managed to catch up with her as he swam down the river."

Mr Russell had just parked his car near to the bridge when the woman fell backwards from the parapet.

Despite having his two-year-old child in the car, he still mounted his own rescue - and was quickly joined by fellow hero, Jamie.

Another eye-witness told us: "The lady fell backwards from the bridge. Keith went into the water after her.

"Once he knew the woman was safe he was able to get back to his child in the car."

The woman had snagged in some trees around 200 metres downstream.

And she was pull onto the far bank by her rescuers before Mr Simmons senior jumped in and waded to their aid with blankets.

Michael, who is from Newcastle, added: "The water was icy cold. As soon as you stepped into the river it was up to your waist.

"Thankfully a passer-by had blankets in their Land Rover and I got them across to the lady.

"Jamie is fully trained in first aid - he had her in the recovery position and he could feel a faint pulse."

Records show the Lyne Water was close to its weekend peak of 1.6 metres on Saturday afternoon.

Fire crews from West Linton and Peebles, backed up by specialist water rescue teams from Galashiels and Edinburgh, eventually reached the stranded trio on the far bank.

The woman was taken to hospital by ambulance, where she is understood to have made a full recovery.

Jamie, Keith and Michael were checked at the scene by medics and allowed to return home to Romanno Bridge.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service told us: "The fire crews had to work in dreadful conditions to carry out the rescue."

As torrential rain continued to hit the Borders throughout Boxing Day emergency services were also called to a stranded vehicle, which had become stuck in rising waters near Kelso.

Both the Willow and Tree burns has flowed onto the roads between Wark and Cornhill-on-Tweed just after 4.30pm.

Crews from Kelso and Coldstream were rushed to the flooded carriageway.

Two women and a man had to be led to safety by the firefighters - none of them required medical assistance.