A 67-YEAR-OLD man was stabbed in the head after a burglar broke into his house on Christmas Eve.

The man was stabbed when his home in Canal Mews, Nelson, was broken into at 8.15pm on Monday.

The man was bleeding heavily and was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital by paramedics.

He was released later that night.

He sustained some very small cuts to his head.

A police spokesperson said: "We were called out to a burglary in Canal Mews in Nelson where a man has been stabbed when someone broke into his house.

"Someone was trying to break into his home.

"He has been stabbed in the head and was taken to hospital.

"He sustained very small cuts to his head and was taken to hospital but is at home now.

"Our enquiries are still on-going enquiries at the moment.

A spokesperson for the ambulance services said: "A 67-year-old male was assaulted in his home.

"It was apparently a stabbing and he had a wound to his head with serious bleeding."

Police have arrested a local man in connection with the incident.