A HERO mum-of-one today told how she disarmed a man waving a nail-studded stick in a hospital with the promise of a meat sandwich.

Carole Lushman, 37, an employee of Lancashire police, gained the man's trust by telling him she would fulfil his request for the food during the incident at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn. He handed over the weapon after five minutes of negotiations outside ward B2. Carole then restrained him until the police arrived.

She said today: "I knew that I was endangering myself, but all I could think was what if he got into the ward and made a mess of people with the stick. At least I am able bodied."

Carole, who works in Rossendale and lives in Hyndburn, was visiting her mum on Sunday night and had gone for a brew in the level two restaurant.

She heard shouting outside and saw the man brandishing the stick. By the time she reached the car park, the man had gone into the hospital.

Carole said: "I found him taking food off a trolley. I told a nurse to go back to the ward and call the police, so I knew backup was on the way. He was very agitated. He was waving the stick around at anyone who came near him. I was a couple of feet away and he could have hit me, but I was prepared for that.

"He said he was hungry, wanted a meat butty. I was watching the stick all the time I was talking to him."

Initially, Carole got no response, but all of a sudden he began to talk back.

She added: "I said 'Look, if you want a meat butty you have to give me the stick because it is not a very pleasant and nice to look at and you will frighten people'.

"He gave the stick to me and I gave it to the porter and grabbed his hand so I knew he couldn't escape. That was the method in my madness.

"There was a bit of relief when he handed that over. I knew then I only needed to take him down, and I thought 'Aat least I am not going to get a nail in my head'.

"I kept hold of his hand and led him to level one and sat him down until the police arrived."

Carole then spoke to the police and returned to her mum.

Anne Asher, divisional director of acute services for the hospital, said: "We are extremely grateful for Carole's intervention and the way she handled the situation so well."

Craig Thomas, 29, of Bridge Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon at Blackburn Magistrates. He was remanded in custody until June 26 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.