A TEENAGER had to be rescued by firefighters after getting his leg stuck in tarmac on a melting road.

Graham Merrington, 19, was walking home with his girlfriend when his left foot went through the tarmac and got wedged in a 12-inch cavity underneath.

Unable to move for more than half an hour he called his dad Wilfrid on the mobile and asked him to raise the alarm.

Girlfriend Sophie Rimmer, 19, then stayed with him until the firefighters and paramedics arrived to help clear the rubble which had caved in on his foot and pull him free.

The freak accident happened just yards away from Graham's house in Angleside Avenue, Burnage at 9.15pm on Tuesday night.

They believe the road had melted in the extreme hot weather.

Graham said: "I was just walking home and was about to go to the gate when down the ditch I went.

"I was quite scared because it was on the corner of the road and I thought the cars might not see me. Once everyone realised what had happened and saw the blue lights quite a crowd gathered around.

"I'm going to go to the solicitor today about this and am also going to speak to the council."

Dad Wilfrid, 57, said local residents had been calling on the council to repair the pavement and road for some time.

He said: "There are cracks all over the road and pavement and people have fallen before but the council keep telling us that they haven't got enough money.

"We think what's happened is that when work was done on the drains a couple of years ago the workmen have not put hardcore down underneath the tarmac. There was just nothing underneath when Graham's foot went through.

"We were worried about pulling Graham's leg as we didn't want to hurt him.

"After they'd got him out the police went back to the yard and got some sand and a battering ram to pat it down with and prevent someone else falling down there. It looks like the council must have come back afterwards and put tarmac down as well."

Graham is due to go for an induction day tomorrow at the RAF but despite being told by doctors that he has ligament damage he is determined to get there.

He said: "I was in the RAF Cadets for about two years and I have always wanted to be a fireman for them since watching Fireman Sam as a kid.

"They're not recruiting firefighters at the moment though so I'm going to go in as a gunner. I'm due to do the physical tests in a few weeks so I'm hoping I'll be alright by then."

A spokesman from Manchester Council said they will investigate the matter and wished the young man a speedy recovery.
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