A BOY had to rescued by firemen after his finger became trapped -- in a seat belt.

Tom Mullin, aged 12, grimaced as the men sliced the metal buckle from the middle finger of his left hand.

The Rivington and Blackrod pupil had been travelling to the Middlebrook retail centre in the back of his parents' car at 6.45pm last night when he put his finger in the bracket -- to see if it would fit.

When his finger became lodged he told his mother, Julie, of Milverton Close, Lostock, who alerted staff at the JJB sports store.

They applied dubbin to try to loosen the finger, but it did not move.

Mrs Mullin drove home and called the fire brigade, who first tried butter, then cold water and frozen peas to free the finger, which was by then swollen.

Two and a half hours later firefighters from Bolton Central fire station finally managed to cut off the buckle with a hacksaw.

Mrs Mullin, who lives with her husband Eamonn, two other sons, Sam, aged 13, and seven-year-old Harry, said: "I was thrilled to bits. It had been quite an ordeal."

Leading fireman Jim Rochford said: "He was wincing a bit, because the finger had become swollen, but he was brave."