FIVE members of staff at Calderstones Hospital who were suspended for more than two months over allegations of ill treatment towards patients have been cleared.

An internal investigation was launched after a former colleague made the allegations against the staff who work in the Woodlands Service department at the Whalley hospital, which deals with patients with challenging behaviour.

The staff were suspended immediately on full pay.

In line with the No Secrets Policy, set up by Lancashire County Council and involving the NHS to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, hospital bosses worked with a variety of agencies to investigate the claims.

Lancashire Police were informed but took no further action.

The staff have now been cleared and are set to return to work.

A spokesman for the Calderstones NHS Trust said: "All investigations have been concluded and a decision taken that there is no case to answer. The suspended staff will return to normal duty as soon as is practicable."

At the time of the suspensions union bosses expressed concern on the extra pressure put on the remaining staff.

Staffing levels on Woodlands are currently down by 11 per cent with 16 of the 131 available vacancies unfilled.

Today they welcomed the decision to reinstate the staff.

Bill McMillan, regional head of health for Unison said: "It is the right decision to suspend staff when serious allegations are made and an investigation is launched but it is also very frustrating.

"In many public service jobs such as nursing and teaching, it is perhaps inevitable that sometimes allegations are made without any real substance.

"The suspensions put tremendous pressure on the remaining staff and I'm sure their colleagues will be glad to see them back. For those who were suspended it must be a huge relief.

"Even though I am sure they were always confident of being cleared, an investigation would have been very stressful for them, worrying about their jobs and their income."