A 22-year-old man suffered serious back injuries and a fractured skull after he plunged 40ft from a block of flats in Farnworth on Tuesday night.

The man, who has not been identified, is believed to have jumped from a window of a third floor flat in Balmoral House, Balmoral Road, shortly before 6.30pm.

He was with a group of family and friends when the accident happened.

They ran outside the tower block and carried the injured man back to the flat while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

The man was placed on a spinal board by the ambulance crew but they struggled to carry him down the narrow staircase.

The paramedics called the fire brigade and requested the use of its hydraulic platform.

Firefighters helped to secure the injured man to the equipment and carry him to the ambulance.

He was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Station Officer Paul Norris from Farnworth Fire Station said the two emergency services worked well together.

"As a result of his serious injuries, the paramedics wanted the man to be kept upright and they found that was impossible as they tried to carry him down the staircase.

"We had worked with the ambulance service on combined exercises before so the crew knew they could have use of the platform.

"They saved time by requesting it straight away.

"When we arrived, we had to clear the road because all the cars were double parked so the platform could gain access.

"A paramedic travelled down with the patient to keep an eye on him."