A MAN charged with attempted murder after allegedly dropping a three-year-old girl off a bridge and into a river has appeared in court.

Damien Smith, of Le Gendre Street, Bolton, appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court this morning following the incident at Crompton Way on September 29.

The 39-year-old has also been charged with affray.

He will be kept in custody until he appears at Bolton Crown Court on November 22.

Police were called to Crompton Way just after 8.30pm on September 29 after reports that a man standing on a bridge was allegedly threatening to drop a child into the River Tonge.

Specially trained police negotiators attended and an operation was put in place to rescue the child from the river should she fall.

The child entered the water which was approximately 30 feet below.

An officer was already in the river and was able to reach the child and she was carried to safety. She was taken to hospital.

The man then fell from the bridge into the water. Officers were able to reach him quickly and he was taken to hospital.

At the hearing in the court in Crown Square, Manchester, Smith wore a grey t-shirt and jeans, and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

He did not enter a plea for either charge.