A MOTHER and child were plucked to safety from a canal by a passer-by today.

Police are still mystified as to how the woman and child ended up in the water.

Officers said the woman was refusing to speak to them and the youngster -- described by an eyewitness as being aged about seven -- is currently in intensive care in Queen's Park Hospital.

The incident happened at around 11.30am in the Leeds and Liverpool canal behind the Moorings pub, Bolton Road, Blackburn.

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene and both the woman and child were given oxygen on the canalside.

The man who rescued the pair was interviewed by police at the scene.

Inspector Stuart Bruce, of Blackburn Police, said: "Police were called to the canal with a report that a child was in difficulties.

"A passer by had helped out of the water a woman and her child. At this stage the child is described as poorly and the woman is absolutely refusing to talk to anybody.

"The child is actively being worked on by medical staff in intensive care.

"The woman is apparently quite safe but is refusing to converse with anybody.

"We are hoping to start to talk with her as soon as possible to try and find out why she and the child were in the canal.

"Police officers are at the canal and in the hospital and hopefully before too long we will find out more."

Danny Parker, 20, of Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, was working on a house nearby.

He said: "I was up on the road and heard all the ambulances come up, so I want down to have a look. I saw a girl in her 20s on the side of the canal. She was wrapped in blankets and had an oxygen mask on. She must have been still alive."