A MAN was taken to hospital in the early hours of this morning after falling into Silsden Beck.

Three fire engines, a helicopter and a specialist water rescue unit were sent to the incident near the Bradley Road taxi rank soon after 3am.

But they discovered the man was lying in only a few inches of water and was not in difficulties.

Watch commander Steve Moorhouse, from Keighley Fire Station, said the helicopter and Bingley’s water rescue team were automatically sent if reports were received about people in the water.

He said: “The man had sat on the wall and toppled over. He had been in the beck for about an hour.

“He was conscious when we got there. He was complaining of an injured shoulder.”

The man, believed to be in his mid- 50s, was taken to hospital for a check-up. Fire appliances attended the scene from Keighley, Silsden and Leeds.