AN Upton-based water rescue team tackled one of their most unusual assignments to date when they provided on-set safety cover for a Bollywood action film.

Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue (MISAR) was approached last week to ensure cast and crew were safe while shooting water-based scenes for the forthcoming movie Tezz - which has drawn comparisons with classic flick Speed.

Team manager David Walker said the crew spend four days on the canals of Birmingham helping actors and stuntmen film the action-packed scenes.

“We were covering all sorts of stunts,” he said. “We had people jumping over bridges and tearing around on jetskis. It was pretty spectacular stuff.”

As it happened the crew were only required to pull the odd actor out of the water, but Mr Walker said he felt they had made a good impression and hopes it may lead to future work.

“With the stunts they were filming it was very important to have some safety there,” he said. “It was not like anything we have done before and but it was very enjoyable and an action-packed few days in every sense.

“It also brought some much-needed funds into the kitty.”

The crew were invited back to Birmingham to watch motorcycle chase scenes being shot in the Queensway area, which was shut-off for the filming.