A 22-YEAR-OLD Chorley woman who attacked her sister with a knife and threatened to kill her has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Preston Crown court was told that at the time of the attack, which was described as "frenzied", Sarah Lyons was suffering from a serious mental illness.

Lyons, of Cottswold House, had faced a more serious charge of attempted murder but her guilty plea to affray was accepted at an earlier hearing.

Mr Jacob Dyer, prosecuting, told the court that 28-year-old Tanya Powell, who lived at Fielden Street, Chorley, with her children and partner Alan Bamber, was stabbed a number of times.

She was protected by her sweat-shirt and jacket, and sustained small puncture wounds to her shoulder and back.

When interviewed, Lyons told police there was ill will between her and her sister, something that was denied by Miss Powell.

Mr John Wishart, defending, said Lyons recognized she needed help. Passing sentence, Judge Peter Openshaw QC said it was clear that at the time she had a mental illness but treatment had since brought a substantial improvement in her

Judge Openshaw made a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983.