A JOINER was left with severe head injuries after plunging 20 feet from an East Lancashire building site.

The man, who has not been named, was carrying out work on a new building project in Altham when he suffered the horror fall.

The victim, 52, was flown by helicopter to Royal Preston Hospital where police today confirmed he remained in a "critical but stable condition".

Detectives were called to the property in Sykes Side Drive, close to Altham Business Park, but have ruled out foul play.

It has been referred to the Health and Safety Executive which has launched a probe and sent officials to the site yesterday.

Detective Inspector Ian Critchley of Accrington CID said: "We were called to the scene at 9.35am on Wednesday following an accident at a new building off Sykes Side Drive where it appears a worker has fallen from scaffolding.

"The man, a joiner, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital and underwent a head scan. His condition stabilised and he remains in a critical but stable condition. We are not treating the incident as suspicious."

An ambulance crew assisted on the ground before the man was taken to hospital by the North West Air Ambulance.

A spokeswoman for the air ambulance said: "We were called after a 52-year-old fell from scaffolding oand flew him to hospital suffering from severe head injuries."

A Health and Safety executive spokeswoman confirmed they were looking into the Wednesday morning fall and said: "The Health and Safety Executive has visited the scene and we are looking into the accident."

Investigators said they were unable to confirm the name of company he was working for.