A PUB landlady was knocked unconcious by a burglar she disturbed in the bar during the early hours of this morning.

The female licensee, named locally as Michelle, was attacked after disturbing a burglar in the Regent Hotel (pictured) in Regent Street, Haslingden, shortly after 4.30am.

She was taken to Bury General Hospital for assessment but was allowed to return to the popular pub at about 8am.

Today she was too upset to talk about her terrifying ordeal.

Scenes of crime officers and forensic experts were at the scene all morning and no-one was allowed into the pub.

Sergeant Mick Heyworth, communications sergeant at Burnley, said: "We got a call from the landlady of the Regent Hotel, Regent Street, Haslingden, at 4.30am to say she had been attacked.

"She had been hit about the head with a bat and although she was conscious at the time we arrived she had been unconscious since the attack but we don't know for how long.

"We suspect she may have disturbed people trying to rob the place."

Residents living near to the pub said they were surprised about what had happened.

Richard Thomas said: "I did not hear anything. The first I heard about it was on the radio this morning.

"As far as I know Michelle has only been in the pub for about a year to 18 months and from what I have been told she is quite a nice lady and good with her customers.

"It is a bit disturbing when something like this happens near you."