A MAN hit by a train on Monday night has had a six-hour emergency operation to save part of his hand.

David Whiteley, 39, of New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, was transferred from Blackburn Royal Infirmary to Manchester's Withington Hospital on Tuesday. Doctors used the latest microsurgery techniques in a bid to stitch his thumb and index finger back to his hand.

Police and an ambulance crew were called by the driver and conductor of the train who spotted Mr Whiteley lying beside the track at 10.35pm.

He was struck by a Colne-to-Blackpool train one mile outside Rishton station. He suffered a part amputation of his hand.

The driver and conductor of the train were left "badly shaken."

They used a mobile phone to contact police and ambulance and stopped the train around 10.35pm, stopped the train and found a man lying beside the track.

A spokesman for Lancashire Ambulance said the victim had told them he was asleep when he was hit by the train.

British Transport Police say they will question David about the incident as soon as he is well enough.