A DOCTOR was threatened with a foot-long bayonet by a Falklands veteran who was receiving treatment at Burnley General Hospital.

Police were called after the incident, which occurred while the locum doctor, who is working for a week at the trust, was treating patients at the Lamont Psychiatric Clinic at noon yesterday.

A 35-year-old former soldier from Burnley threatened him with a bayonet.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Michael Launer said: "The doctor made his escape leaving the man in the treatment room on his own.

"He was in there for about 90 minutes while a variety of people went in to see him, hospital staff and police, trying to calm him down.

"He put the bayonet down quite quickly and there was no fighting or violence. Everyone handled the situation very well.

"The man is a veteran of the Falklands and he has been seen on occasion from time-to-time at the hospital over a few years.

"There was no physical contact between the doctor and the patient although the doctor was shaken by the incident."

Police arrested the man and Det Insp Colin Barton said he had been released pending further inquiries.

Dr Launer, who refused to identify the doctor involved, added: "I am happy with the way the matter was resolves, everybody did extremely well."

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