AN injured woman was rescued from the bottom of a cliff at Saltwells Nature Reserve.

The woman was pulled to safety by firefighters who used a specialised stretcher and a rope system.

The dramatic rescue happened at the reserve in Netherton last night (January 26).

Ambulance crews were called to the scene at around 8.15pm, where the woman was assessed by paramedics before being taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further treatment.

A crew from Brierley Hill Fire Station raced to the scene, along with fire service's Techical Rescue Unit.

West Midlands Police used a drone to help light the way to assist firefighters and paramedics working in the dark to rescue the woman.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 8.14pm to reports of an incident at Saltwells Lane, Netherton. One ambulance, a paramedic officer, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and a MERIT Trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.

"On arrival we found a woman, she was assessed and had sustained injuries not believed to be life threatening. She was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further assessment.”

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "We were alerted to reports of a woman in distress on a cliff at Saltwells Nature Reserve in Netherton, at just after 7.45pm yesterday evening (Wednesday).

"Officers attended along with colleagues from the fire and ambulance services and we understand the woman was found in undergrowth.

"We believe that thankfully she had not suffered any serious injuries and was attended to by paramedics before being taken to hospital for further checks."

A statement from West Midlands Fire Service said: "Last night we responded to Saltwells Nature Reserve in Netherton to assist in the rescue of a woman from an incline at the bottom of a cliff side.

"A fire engine from Brierley Hill Fire Station and a team from our Technical Rescue Unit (TRU) at Wednesbury attended.

"Working with the ambulance service’s Hazardous Area Response Team, a doctor and the police we devised a plan to recover the woman to safety.

"This involved using a specialist stretcher from our TRU, whose members also put in place a rope system.

"The multi-agency response ensured that the woman was safely and successfully rescued and taken to hospital."