A MAN suffered serious leg injuries after becoming trapped under a forklift truck this morning.

Emergency services were called to premises on the A6, Manchester Road, Westhoughton, at around 10.30am.

The man was airlifted to hospital after being freed by firefighters.

Crews from Bolton Central, Bolton North and Leigh attended alongside paramedics and police.

Crew Manager Simon Cording at Leigh Fire Station said: "The man was trapped under a forklift truck.

"We had to stabilise the forklift truck and cut away at sections of the forklift truck to extricate him.

"He suffered serious leg injuries and was taken to hospital in an air ambulance."

Watch Manager Carl Gleaves said: "It is understood that the man had been driving the forklift truck but the incident is subject to an investigation.

"We were on the scene for nearly two hours and he was flown to hospital, with serious leg and pelvic injuries.

"There was a good multi-agency approach.

"The paramedics were already on scene and had requested the air ambulance. We made the scene safe and liaised with the police."

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We were called at 10.34am to Manchester Road to a place of work.

"The accident involves a vehicle.”

A spokesman for the police said: “We received reports a man was trapped.

"It is a workplace injury and ambulance are in attendance."

The Health and Safety Executive refused to reveal the name of the business, but confirmed that it is investigating.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "Health and Safety Executive is aware of the incident and making initial enquiries. We cannot comment further at this time.”

An eye-witness said: "There are always helicopters flying around here, and we recognised that this was an air ambulance. We heard it was flying very low and then heard the sirens going up the road.

"I hope he is okay."