A man fell down a drain and was trapped in a sewer for three days before his cries for help were heard and he was pulled to safety.

The 48-year-old told rescuers he had been wandering through pipelines for up to 72 hours as he desperately tried to find a way out.

Local business workers eventually heard his cries coming from beneath the road.

The first thing he said as he emerged into daylight was: "Does anyone have a fag?"

The scene as the man was pulled free on February 8 was captured by Sam Palmer, a manager at Big White Cube Vehicle Hire in Romford who heard the victim's cries for help outside her office.

He claimed he had fallen in up to six miles away on February 5 and couldn't get out again so began walking along the tunnel.