FIRE crews rescued a 24-year-old man who plunged 12ft from a car park wall onto a river bank.

The incident happened in Waterside Road, Summerseat, near the Waterside pub at 1.20am on Saturday.

Fire officers from Ramsbottom and Bury used ropes and ladders to reach the man, who had come to rest on a silt bed, before delicately lifting him to safety using a spinal board.

The man was taken by ambulance to Fairfield Hospital, but it is not believed he sustained any serious injuries.

Police and ambulance officers were also called to the scene.

During the rescue attempt the victim of the fall was drifting in and out of consciousness.

Special equipment had to be used to bring him to safety.

Watch commander Tony Burke, of Ramsbottom fire station, said: “We set our ladders up and put the man on a spinal board to immobolise him.

“Throughout, he was drifting in and out of consciousness.”

Firefighters attached ropes to the top and bottom of the stretcher and a fire tender in the Waterside car park was used as an anchor during the rescue operation.

Officers had to overcome difficulties caused by the silt and rainy conditions, spending around one hour at the scene.