A JOINER today remained in a critical condition in hospital after plunging 20 feet from an East Lancashire building site.

Peter Walton, 52, was carrying out work on a new building project in Altham when he suffered the horror fall from scaffolding.

He suffered severe head injuries in the incident, which is believed to have occurred when an area of scaffolding collapsed.

Detectives were called to the property in Sykes Side Drive, close to Altham Business Park, but have ruled out foul play.

The site has been isolated by investigators from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who are looking into the possibility that the scaffolding was dangerous.

HSE officials visited the building site after the fall on Wednesday morning. Experts from the HSE specialist laboratory and police forensic officers have also been at the scene.

Mr Walton was working for Poulton le Fylde-based New Look Construction at the site.

Glen Mill Group Developments are running the site.

Pete Shearon, the company's managing director, said: "This is a very unfortunate accident and investigations to establish the cause are under way.

"We wish Peter a speedy recovery."

After the accident, the victim, from the Poulton area, was flown by helicopter to Royal Preston Hospital and underwent a head scan.

Detective Inspector Ian Critchley, of Accrington CID, said: "The joiner's condition has stabilised and he remains in a critical but stable condition. We are not treating the incident as suspicious."