BOSSES at the controversial Calderstones Hospital today said a new security fence would surround the site within a month.

A major review of security in the wake of a series of embarrassing incidents at the hospital was unveiled today, a year after it was originally commissioned.

Earlier this week the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed that a patient tried to strangle a member of staff and highlighted an incident where a patient absconded sparking an armed police response.

Christine Kirk, chairman of the Calderstones NHS Trust, said the board had agreed to implement all of the security suggestions given in the report, drawn up by a team including a retired prison governor.

Citing security reasons, Mrs Kirk said she could not reveal the exact nature of the improvements but said that they would include security awareness sessions for staff and the appointment of a security advisor.

The perimeter fence was not one of the recommendations but will be erected by the start of July.

Access to and from the hospital will be controlled through a manned security gate.

The trust may have to apply for funding to implement the measures.

Unions and Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who has led the calls for a security review, today welcomed the measures. Residents near the Whalley hospital also welcomed them.

Mr Evans said: "The fence is essential and is long overdue for the security of the people who live in that area of Whalley.

"All the security measures discussed must be installed as quickly as possible and in the meantime interim measures must be put in place to ensure greater security at Calderstones.

"I think the appointment of someone dedicated to security is superb. There also must be someone independent to review these measures."

Pete Hawkins, the local representative of UNISON, the union that covers Calderstones, said: "We would welcome any security measures but these cannot just be wallpaper to cover the cracks and must be carried out properly.

"Calderstones also needs to review its pay structure to retain the staff they already have there. What good is security if there are no staff inside to implement it?"

The security report was drawn up by a team consisting of a senior psychiatric nurse, a professor of psychiatry, a clinical psychologist and a retired prison governor who now works for the NHS.

It looked into every aspect of how things are run at Calderstones and was described by Mrs Kirk as "exhaustive."