A pensioner was trapped upside down in a hole for four hours – finally being rescued by a passing postman who saw his feet sticking out.

Albert Hughes, 70, was adjusting the water flow of the sprinklers in his front garden when he fell head first into the hole which houses the water meter.

Passing postwoman Janelle Maury was delivering letters when she saw his boots and heard his muffled cries for help.

“His feet were at ground level but that was all I could see. When I was closer I could see he was down there,” said Janelle. She immediately called the emergency services who rushed to the scene.