A MAN who went for an impromptu dip in the River Tone in Taunton to cool off got more than he bargained for when police and firefighters were called.

Crowds of onlookers gathered on The Bridge and along the banks of the river as the man, wearing nothing more than his underpants, swam up and down for almost half an hour to avoid capture by the emergency services.

He was eventually thrown a rope and dragged exhausted from the water before being arrested and taken to Taunton Police Station.

For the full story, see this week's Somerset County Gazette.