A MAN charged with the murder of five-year-old Blackburn schoolboy Dillon Hull has been attacked in jail by a knifeman.

Paul William Seddon, 26, was slashed across the neck with a "home-made" knife by another prisoner at Manchester's Strangeways Prison.

Seddon, who is awaiting trial accused of gunning down the former Longshaw Primary School pupil in a Bolton street six weeks ago, was saved from more serious injury by the swift actions of a prison officer who pulled the attacker away.

Seddon, of Chorley New Road, Bolton, was treated in the prison hospital before being moved to another cell in a segregated part of the prison - normally used to accommodate sex offenders.

The prison authorities moved him to the segregated wing fearing further attacks.

The attack happened on a recreation wing of the prison at 6.30pm on Tuesday shortly after evening meal as the inmates were mixing together.

Seddon, who is charged with the murder of Dillon and the attempted murder of his stepfather John Bates, has not made a complaint about the incident and has also refused to speak to detectives.

A spokesman for the prison service said: "I am not able to reveal the prisoner's identity but I can say an attack did take place.

"It was ended swiftly by the prompt action of prison staff. The victim suffered minor cuts to his neck."

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