A TERRITORIAL Army soldier collapsed while on a map-reading exercise in Holcombe, Bury.

The soldier was among a party of soldiers from the 207 Field Hospital Unit Manchester of the Territorial Army preparing for deployment in the Gulf.

He is believed to have collapsed with a suspected heart attack, close to Peel Tower.

Members of the unit, who are medically trained, immediately began resuscitation. The air ambulance was called but was not able to reach the scene because of fog.

Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and the Rossendale and Pendle mountain Rescue Team were called to bring the man down. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to Fairfield Hospital in Bury.