A TEACHER out walking his dog plunged into the murky waters of a Bolton lodge to rescue a drowning teenager.

The boy was thrashing about in Doffcocker Lodge when modest hero Ian Allt spotted him and sprang into action.

The 26-year-old, from Markland Hill, dived into the cold water and swam 30 yards to the struggling teenager before dragging him to safety.

And today, as ambulance bosses paid tribute to his bravery, police chiefs warned local youngsters to stay away from Bolton's lodges and reservoirs -- no matter how hot the weather gets.

A police spokesman said: "This very nearly became yet another tragedy. No matter how warm the temperatures get, people have to be aware that the waters in lodges and reservoirs will remain cold and very treacherous."

Paramedics said today that the teenager -- who has not been identified -- only survived because of Mr Allt's actions.

A paramedic who was at the scene said: "We don't know how long the lad had been in the water, but he was ready to give up just before Mr Allt reached him." Mr Allt was walking with his girlfriend Jill Prytherch, aged 26, and their border collie Scuffy at 9pm on Friday when they heard shouting from the lodge and saw a teenager thrashing around in the middle of the water.

A boy was at the side of the water and told Mr Allt that his brother was drowning and that he could not help him because he could not swim.

Without hesitation, Mr Allt, of Markland Hill Lane, stripped off and swam to his aid.

He guided the youth back to dry land and a nearby angler called the emergency services.

Mr Allt, a primary school teacher in Trafford, said: "I didn't really think about it. It was a natural reaction. He needed help and I could give it.

"Fortunately I have been trying to get fit recently, so have been doing quite a bit of swimming.

"The water was freezing and took my breath away. It was quite scary when I reached him because he kept pulling me down. If it hadn't been for the training I would have struggled to keep above water."

Mr Allt added: "When we got him out of the water he was freezing and being sick everywhere. Paramedics said that if his body temperature had dropped any further he might not have made it."

An ambulance arrived at the scene within minutes and the teenager was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital. He was later released after treatment.

Over the last three years, 12 people have died in local lodges and reservoirs.

These include Bury firefighter Paul Metcalf, who drowned as he tried to rescue 15-year-old Reyaz Ali from Simon's Lodge at Redisher Woods, Holcombe Brook. The teenager also died.

Tragedy also struck when eight-year-old Jaffer Javid, of Oriel Street, Deane, drowned while playing with friends at disused lodges off Blackshaw Lane, Deane, in summer 2000.

Several other people have survived after being rescued by friends, relatives and passers-by.