A MAN stuck in a tree for more than 16 hours has been rescued by firefighters.

The man has been in the tree since 8.40pm last night and police negotiators spent 16 hours at the scene trying to persuade him to come down.

An eyewitness has said firefighters were being raised on a platform to enable them to get closer to the man to try and talk him down.

But the eyewitness said the man refused to come down and began climbing higher in the tree to get away from them.

At about 12.40pm, the man was helped into the aerial platform and brought down safely.

He was spoken to by police and paramedics and detained under the mental health act

Nearby Holden Road was closed throughout the incident and emergency services, including firefighters, paramedics and police were at the scene.

Reports on Twitter said the man was protesting about being deported but Greater Manchester Police could not confirm this.

Police officers said they had been concerned for the man’s welfare.

They were called to the scene at 8.40pm last night after someone called them to say that a man would not get out of the tree, in Platt Fold Road, Leigh.

A police spokesman said: "A man who climbed a tree in Leigh has now voluntarily come down.

"Police were called following reports a man had climbed up a tree on Platt Fold Road, Leigh and refused to climb down.

"Force negotiators were called and attended the scene while roads around the immediate area were closed while efforts were made to get the man down.

"He climbed down and was detained under the mental health act."