EMERGENCY services were mobilised at the weekend after reports a man had plunged into a river in Radcliffe.

Police later discovered that after jumping into the River Irwell, behind the town's Asda store, the man had then walked across the shallow water.

He was then voluntarily taken by a waiting ambulance to Fairfield General Hospital where it is understood he underwent a check-up.

Sunday's (Sept 23) incident, which happend around 4.10pm, resulted in six fire tenders, ambulance crews, police officers and the force's helicopter being called out.

Inspector Steve Clark of Bury police said: "This man was behaving rather irrationally.

"We had got a call to say someone had jumped into the river. It's not particularly deep there and he walked over to the other side and got out of his own accord.

"He then walked into an ambulance which was waiting and went to hospital."