A MAN used his mobile phone to call firefighters to the rescue after getting trapped inside a clothing recycling bin.

The man, thought to be in his early 20s, had been trying to remove clothing from the bin in the car park at Tesco, Hill Street, Blackburn at 3am. He fell in and got stuck.

Firefighters used cutting equipment normally reserved for car accidents to free him.

Sub-officer Tony Ashworth said: "The bins are very secure and are designed for things to go in and not come out again. We had to cut a hinge off with special equipment to free the man.

"He wasn't very talkative and went on his way as soon as he was free.

"I have no idea how long he could have been there if he hadn't had a mobile phone."