Children's TV entertainer Timmy Mallett rescued a woman from the waters of a freezing marina, police disclosed on Sunday.

The zany Wacaday star was on hand when the woman, in her 30s, fell into Hartlepool Marina in the early hours of this morning, said a spokesman for Cleveland Police.

It is believed Mr Mallett, who is currently starring as Buttons in Cinderella at the Billingham Forum, near Middlesbrough, was in a flat by the marina when he ran to the waterside.

He helped her from the water and wrapped her in blankets until paramedics arrived.

Cleveland Police had no details of Mr Mallett's exact involvement in the rescue or how the woman came to fall into the icy water in the first place.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm Timmy Mallet's involvement in the rescue of a female who had fallen into the water at Hartlepool Marina."

Mallett's Mallet

He said the incident was reported at 0032GMT on Sunday and the woman was taken to Hartlepool General Hospital suffering from suspected hypothermia.

She was later released after treatment.

Mr Mallett presented Wacaday during school holidays on TV-am between 1985 and 1992. Mr Mallett's game Mallett's Mallet was the most popular feature of the programme.

He also presented sister show The Wide Awake Club shown on Saturday mornings.