M55 brought to a standstill as man 'dressed in just shorts flees hospital and runs into traffic'

Police were called to the M55, between junctions three and four, at around 2pm yesterday as scores of worried motorists dialled 999.

"Officers attended and the man, who it is understood had made off from Blackpool Victoria Hospital, was taken back to the hospital," Lancashire Police said.

The man, whose age was unknown, was not under arrest nor was he detained under the Mental Health Act, a force spokesman said.

He was at the hospital as a "medical patient" and was not hurt during his dangerous escapade, which caused traffic to grind to a halt, the spokesman added.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Vic, in Whinney Heys Road, said: "We can confirm that a patient receiving care at Blackpool Victoria Hospital had signed a disclaimer to leave his ward on Tuesday.

"He was returned by police some time later on the same day.

"The patient has since been discharged.

"We are unable to go into any further details because of patient confidentiality.”

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