RED faced bosses at a mental health hospital have apologised after releasing figures that suggested it was the least secure in the country.

Whalley-based Calderstones NHS Trust insists security is a top priority and assured nearby residents they are not in danger.

The trust, which provides care and treatment for people with learning disabilities, says it wrongly interpreted a freedom of information act request about the number of people who had absconded in 2007.

Its response, 23, was well beyond the next-highest amount of reported escapes in a BBC poll of low and medium secure units.

After the figures were reported yesterday, trust bosses held an urgent meeting after which chief executive Russ Pearce announced the true figure was just one, low risk, patient.

He said the trust had wrongly included incidents where patients had left the supervision of staff, inside the grounds of the hospital, in its response.

He added: “On behalf of the trust, I’d like to apologise for this misinterpretation and for any concern this may have caused the public.”

According to the figures, there was one escape reported by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health and drug addiction services.