A MAN rescued by police as he dangled from a motorway bridge today admitting causing a major incident - but claimed he never intended to jump.

He spoke as it was revealed that two officers were being recommended for a commendation for their actions.

The man was spotted hanging from the M65 bridge at Altham at 2pm on Sunday and a passer by said he would be dead if it was not for Sgt Neil Persechino and PC Neil Sutton.

Sgt Persechino leaned over the railings with his feet off the ground to pull the man back up after he saw him while off duty. He was helped by PC Sutton who had responded to an emergency call by the passer-by.

Today, Insp Steve Haworth said the man had been charged with breach of the peace and bound over for 12 months by Blackburn magistrates.

He said he had also been seen by psychiatrists who said he was not suffering from a mental illness.

The man, who lives in Accrington but does not want to be identified, said he was trying to persuade his girlfriend to take him back after they had split up.

He admitted he had rope tied around his neck, but denied he was going to jump.

"I didn't let go," he said. "I did tell him to stand back but I wasn't intending to jump. I might have had rope tied round my neck but it was emotional blackmail.

"My girlfriend and I had an argument a week before and split up. She wouldn't take me back.

"Once the police arrived it just got out of hand. I wasn't planning on killing myself."

The man's girlfriend arrived at the scene as traffic below the bridge stopped.

"I went down there purposely and told my girlfriend to meet me there," he said. "When she got there we were talking. I was at the wrong side of the bridge and she was stood at the other side.

"She asked me what I was doing and said she needed me. I wanted her to take me back and I made it look like I was going.

"There was an off-duty policeman passing before my girlfriend got there. He saw me and I told him to stay back.

"Fair enough they could have assumed I would have jumped but I never once said I was going to jump. I wasn't hanging, I was sat on the ledge and I had a bottle of vodka beside me and a bottle of of pop.

"Then my girlfriend turned up and as we were talking I came towards the ledge and grabbed the railings. Then two police officers grabbed me to take me over. As he got me to the other side he put the cuffs on me and I was detained under the Mental Health Act."

Insp Haworth added: "I think both officers acted with great courage and commitment and in my view his life was saved by them, whatever he says.

"Reports will be going forward for commendations and I'm quite sure they will get one."