A MAN who told witnesses he had drunk 15 pints of lager jumped from a canal bridge early today.

The man, who has not been named but is in his 30s and from Burnley, was spotted in the water by the Inn on the Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, by a passing police officer at 2am.

Paramedics and fire crews were called to the scene and the man eventually emerged from the water of his own accord 30 minutes later. Police said the man jumped from the bridge in an attempt to injure himself.

Inspector Dave Croll, of Burnley Police, said: "A police officer on patrol noticed the incident. PC Lisa Smith was on patrol when she saw the man jump, in an attempt to injure himself.

"The man had jumped in the canal and eventually came out of his own accord after talking to police officers.

"All the emergency services were called out and the man was voluntarily taken to Burnley General hospital for treatment.

"He was extremely lucky that the police officer noticed him.

"We could have had a very different situation on our hands." Sub Officer Steve Cope, of Burnley fire station, said: "The man had consumed a large amount of alcohol before he jumped from the bridge and attempted to injure himself.

"He was sitting on a small island at the other side of the canal and said he had drunk 15 pints of lager.

"Police and Paramedics managed to coax him to swim back across the canal to safety."