A MAN jumped 30 feet into a shallow brook in a failed bid to evade police.

Officers said the incident happened in Bridge Street, Waterfoot, at around noon yesterday and the 49-year-old Burnley man suffered suspected fractured to both ankles.

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Firefighters and paramedics had to carry the man up a ladder out of Whitewell Brook. He was then arrested on suspicion of theft before being taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Police said the man had been seen in a Citroen Berlingo, which had been reported stolen from Billington, travelling along Burnley Road East towards Waterfoot.

When they attempted to stop the car the man allegedly abandoned the vehicle in Bridge Street, before attempting to escape in the brook, officers said.

Firefighters, police and paramedics all attended and a temporary road closure was put in place in Bridge Street so the man could be rescued.

A police spokesman said: “A Citroen Berlingo which had been stolen from an address in Billington was sighted travelling along Burnley Road East towards Waterfoot.

“The car turned on to Bridge Street before it was abandoned.

“The driver fled and jumped from the bridge into the river.

“The 49-year-old man from Burnley was later removed from the river and arrested. He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital after he sustained suspected fractures to both ankles.”

A spokesman for the fire service said one crew went down into the brook with paramedics to treat the man, who was complaining about pain in his legs.

The spokesman said the man was then put on a stretcher and carried up the ladder to a waiting ambulance.

An ambulance spokesman said: “We were alerted at 12.20pm by police who requested assistance.

“Paramedics were at the scene within eight minutes and treated the patient close to the river.

“The man had injuries to both his ankles and was attended to before being taken by ambulance to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he is receiving further treatment.”