A man and four young girls had a lucky escape after the car they were travelling in plunged into the sea in Fife.

The vehicle fell two metres from the promenade into the Firth of Forth at Burntisland on Thursday afternoon.

The incident took place at around 3.40pm in front of the Beacon Leisure Centre.

Sisters Kayleigh, 22, and Vicki Reid, 19, who were on lifeguard duty in Burntisland at the time, heard a revving engine followed by a splash.

It is understood the male driver, 56, had a leg brace which became jammed inside the car as it entered the water.

Vicki paddled to the car on a rescue board, while her sister arrived shortly afterwards, having swum 250 metres and radioed the coastguard.

Emergency services and Queensferry RNLI lifeboat were scrambled to the scene to assist.

The driver was having trouble freeing himself from the vehicle due to his leg brace.

Two members of the public helped him and he was taken to the shore on the rescue board.

Three other occupants of the vehicle aged ten, 13 and 14 had already made their way to shore and another girl, 14, had managed to get out of the vehicle before the car fell from the promenade.

All passengers were treated for shock and one being given oxygen.

Senior lifeguard Kayleigh Reid said: "It was a shock to see the car in the water like that but we were able to react quickly, provide assistance and call for back-up from the lifeboat and other agencies.

"Credit must also go to members of the public who did a great deal to help. We're just really pleased everyone is safe and well."

RNLI lifeguard manager Tim Doran said: "This is only the second year that we've had RNLI lifeguards on beaches in Fife.

"I'm really pleased with the way our lifeguards and members of the public reacted to ensure the safety of everyone involved in this incident."