A MAJOR rescue operation was mounted after a 64-year-old woman fell and broke a leg, ankle and wrist while walking with her husband on the moors at Belmont.

Nora Jones, of Irlam o'th' Height, Salford, slipped in a steep valley next to the Blue Lagoon yesterday.

The North West Air Ambulance was sent to the scene, but when it arrived in windy conditions at the remote area on the outskirts of Bolton, Mrs Jones, who is afraid of flying, was too scared to board the helicopter. She was carried to an ambulance.

The alarm was raised by Mrs Jones' husband Robert who ran to a nearby car park. He had been unable to get a signal on his mobile phone. A motorist flagged down a Bolton Mountain Rescue vehicle.

Gary Rhodes, Bolton Mountain Rescue team leader, said: "Even though we were on the scene very quickly, the woman became very cold as she lay waiting to be rescued.

"The weather very suddenly changed after she fell. Within minutes, it became very windy and started to rain very heavily."

Mr Rhodes said Mrs Jones was scared of flying and refused to be taken away by the helicopter.

She was carried to the ambulance across rough ground on a stretcher. She was expected to be released from hospital in Preston today.

Because of the stormy weather conditions, the emergency services had to block the road between Rivington and Belmont so the helicopter could safely take off.

Mr Rhodes said: "The weather was at the very limits of safety and the helicopter needed a long stretch of land on which to make a crash landing if it needed to after take-off."