A MAN was dramatically rescued by emergency services after falling more than 30 foot from his garden onto a river bank yesterday.

The man was carrying out work to strengthen the banking of his home on Homeland Place, Blackwood, when the accident happened.

He sustained a head injury and a suspected broken ankle after falling down onto the bank of the Sirhowy River.

Bertie Jones was said to be in a stable condition at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport.

South Wales Fire Service deployed an inflatable footway to stretcher Mr Dudley across the river and into the car park of the Rock and Fountain pub where an ambulance was waiting.

Residents of Homeland Place and the adjacent Thorncombe Road said the steep banking was caused by erosion from the river and was extremely dangerous. One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I have lived here all my life. The course of the river was changed years ago but they forgot about Homeland Place and it has gradually got worse over the years. It is the first accident we have had though."

Clive Harries, 56, of Thorncombe Road, said: "Years ago there used to be a path there but the river banking has degraded it and worn it away. We are all fighting the river on this road."

Sub officer Darrell Brain, of Cefn Fforest fire station, said: "He has fallen a considerable height and he could have died."

Sergeant Michael Moyles, of Blackwood police station, said: "We are not treating it as a suspicious incident as it looks as if it was a conventional accident. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening."