WALKERS have been warned to stay off a drained mill lodge in Accrington after a man got stuck up to his chest in mud.

Damian McKenna, of Accrington, had to be rescued from Platt's Lodge after getting into trouble while walking his dog on Saturday.

The lodge, off Cotton Street in the Scaitcliffe area of town, has been drained while a concrete bridge is built across it to link part of Hyndburn's cycle path network.

A huge fence and warning signs have been erected at the site to keep people out.

Peter Britcliffe, leader of Hyndburn Council, which owns the lodge, said walkers must stay off the lodge because it is not safe.

He added: "I was sorry to hear about what happened at the weekend, but there are security fences up here and warnings. The lodge is just as dangerous without water in it because of the silt. We would urge everyone to heed the warning signs and stay off the lodge."

Mr McKenna was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering from hypothermia and shock following his ordeal. He was walking his pet dog when the animal ran on to the lodge, which had been drained.

After trying unsuccessfully to beckon his dog to come back he then, according to firefighters, decided to go on to the lodge to retrieve the dog.

However it is believed that the frosted surface of the lodge gave way a short way across as he walked on it.

In a matter of seconds, said firefighters, he sank up to his chest and became trapped.

Fire crews used an inflatable walkway to reach Mr McKenna before using a sand lance to loosen up the mud around him so he could be pulled free.