A walker has been air lifted to hospital after getting trapped down an old mine shaft for FIVE hours.

Firefighters from Hyndburn were called to Altham Clough Wood off Burnley Road in Altham to reports a 38-year-old man had slipped into the protected mine shaft.

Hyndburn watch manager Lee Cook said by the time they arrived shortly after 6.20pm on Sunday, May 1 the walker had already been rescued by a farmer.

Paramedics were also called to the scene and the walker was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital with a suspected head injury.

He was also treated for dehydration, shock and hypothermia.

Mr Cook said: “The man was walking in a wooded area and managed to slip down a shaft or ditch at some point in the afternoon.

“We believe he was there for four or five hours.

“There was a farmer’s son on a scrambling bike and he heard him shouting for help and the land owner alerted the emergency services.

“By the time we got there he was already out and was taken by air ambulance to hospital.

“He was very disorientated.”