FIREMEN from Hindley rushed to the aid of paramedics who were treating a man who had fallen seven feet into a cellar.

Michael Lewis, 47, an estate agent from Preston, was showing prospective buyers around a vacant shop property in Elliott Street, Tyldesley, when the accident happened.

Mr Lewis had walked into an unlit room and had not seen the uncovered opening to the cellar.

The alarm was raised and paramedics using a ladder from a nearby shop treated Mr Lewis, who had smashed his ankle, at the scene.

They requested the aid of firemen when they assessed Mr Lewis's injuries and decided it would be difficult to get him out.

He was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary for treatment.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.