HOSPITAL bosses have launched an investigation after a psychiatric patient left the unit where he was being cared for and committed suicide in a busy street.

John Chester, 26, was found in the early hours of last Monday in Tanpits Road, Church. The scene was cordoned off while police made preliminary investigations to find out who it was.

Police said they did not feel his death was suspicious and it is believed he slit his wrists.

Mr Chester, whose family live in Wycollar Close, Accrington, was receiving treatment at the psychiatric unit of Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

It is believed he told members of staff he was going for a cigarette in the hospital grounds but instead fled the unit.

He was not seen again until his body was spotted, and reported to police.

His case has been referred to the coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, Michael Singleton.

In the meantime, an investigation has been launched by Lancashire Care NHS Trust, which provides mental health services in the county.

Karen Wilson, director of clinical services, said today: "An investigation is under way into the tragic circumstances surrounding this." However hospital bosses have refused to be drawn on whether Mr Chester was a day patient or a long-term resident patient at the hospital.

His mother, Lesley, was too distressed to speak to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Mr Chester's funeral will take place on Wednesday at 11.40am at Accrington Crematorium.

It is not the first time the psychiatric unit at Queen's Park Hospital has had to launch investigations after patients have vanished.

In 2002, 19-year-old Philip Maher disappeared for 24 hours, prompting a police search, before returning of his own accord.

Last year, 20-year-old Leona Mitchell, from Accrington, was rescued from the roof of the hospital.

She had managed to get off the psychiatric ward where she was an in-patient.

Her mother, Barbara, warned at the time that if security was tightened up, a tragedy would occur. Leona has a history of suicidal tendencies.