A man who was 'under the influence' called the police claiming his friend was in the Bridgewater Canal - but no-one was found.
Police officers and fire crews were scrambled to the scene near Butts Bridge in Leigh yesterday afternoon (Monday). They found a man in the canal.
He told police that his friend was in the water and that he was looking for him, the force said. Crews then 'quickly' established that his friend had never been in the canal.
