A MAN is in a critical condition after he was found unconscious in a park lake.

Police said the 20-year-old man was found within a boating lake in Thompson Park, Burnley, on the Ormerod Road side of the bridge at around 9.35am today.

It is unclear how long the man had been in the water before he was found.

He was airlifted to Wythenshaw Hospital in Manchester where he remains in a critical condition.

Police believe the incident is not thought to be suspicious.

Detectives are trying to piece together the man’s movements in the build up to him being found.

Detective inspector Tim McDermott said: “At this moment, the full circumstances of this incident remain unclear.

"We believe the man had been in the park with two male friends close to the bridge for some time and may have been seen by and spoke to a number of people.

"It is likely that the park would have been fairly busy around that time.

"I would urge anyone who saw or spoke to this group to contact us as soon as possible."

Anyone with information about this incident has been urged to call 101 quoting incident 369 of October 31.