A WORKMAN had a miraculous escape when he cut through a main electricity cable.

Mr John Goulding, aged 46, of Clifton Street, Leigh, had been digging up Newton Street in Halliwell when he accidentally hit the cable.

A massive shock sent him flying across the road but by the time the ambulance crew arrived it emerged he had suffered nothing more than a severe case of pins and needles down his arm!

Residents were alerted to what had happened by a small explosion and ambulance crews who raced to the scene were amazed to find Mr Goulding sitting up and able to speak. He was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary as a precaution. An ambulance spokesman said: "He had nothing more than pins and needles. It seems he was a very, very lucky man."

Mr Goulding was today back at work at D G Ryan in Walkden. His boss, Mr Mike Bateman, said the company, which was doing contract work for North West Water, would be investigating.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.