A MAN using a mobility scooter had to be rescued by firefighters after he fell into a fishing pond.

Firefighters were sent to help the 43-year-old man at about 3am at the small private Ramsey Angling Club pond in Horrobin Lane, Turton, near Jumbles Reservoir after he called 999.

Fire bosses said the man, a nearby resident who owns the pond and has a number of fish there, was trying to warn off people allegedly stealing fish from the pond, which lies next to a small car park for Jumbles Country Park.

But as he was remonstrating with them he inadvertently went into the pond and was chest deep in water and hanging on to the side of the pond.

He had been in the water for about half an hour.

Paramedics were also sent to the scene and gave him thermal blankets to help him warm up.

The Bolton News:

A North West Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We were called at 2.40am to reports of a male stuck in water at the junction of The Spinney and Horrobin Lane.

"We sent three Hazard Area Response Teams, two Rapid Response Vehicles and one ambulance.

"The patient was found conscious and breathing.

"He refused to go to hospital and was taken home."

Watch manager Mick Hodgson, from Bolton North fire station, said: "He was lucky really, it could have been much worse.

"It is quite dangerous to be in cold water for a long period of time, especially on such a cold night like it was.

"He dialled 999 and luckily we were quite quickly able to drag him out to safety."

Lancashire Police confirmed it sent officers to respond to a 'concern for safety' call at 2.35am in Horrobin Lane. 

However, the force has no log of a complaint of attempted fish poaching.