BOSSES at a privately-run psychiatric hospital have tightened up security after a convicted sex attacker absconded for eight hours.

Anthony Roberts, 38, who is being held at Kemple View low-security hospital, Langho, went on the run last month after being allowed an unescorted walk round the grounds.

Roberts, who was sentenced to life for attempted murder in 1991, was later returned to the hospital after surrendering to police.

In response to the incident, bosses at the 64-bed hospital this week opened their doors to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and revealed they have tightened up its 30-minute checking policy on all patients awarded unescorted leave.

The security review also means staff will automatically call the police if a patient absconds.

Previously, staff would search the grounds for the missing person before calling the emergency services.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who called for an urgent security review after the patient absconded, today welcomed the news.

Peter Handy, hospital director, who gave the Telegraph an exclusive tour of the facility, explained the new security measures.

He said: "As a result of this recent incident, we have made some changes to our security procedures.

"Unescorted leave, which is regularly reviewed and forms part of a routine clinical assessment, allows a patient to walk round the grounds.

"Previously, staff had to check on their whereabouts every 30 minutes, but they were sometimes assuming they were in the grounds when, in fact, they were not.

"If the patient didn't check in after 30 minutes they would assume they was still on the site and wait a further 30 minutes before checking again.

"Now, as a result of the recent incident, staff have to make visual contact with the patient every 30 minutes -- they physically have to see them.

"Also, we have now agreed with police to change our protocol after someone goes missing.

"We will now call them as soon as we believe someone is missing.

"This is different from our old policy of searching the grounds first then calling the police.

We will also make our information on each patient more in line with the information needed by police in searching for a missing person.

"This means that the so-called 'Golden Hour' after someone is reported missing is used more effectively."

After Roberts absconded on Sunday, June 12, hospital managers withdrew his unescorted leave privilege. Around half of patients currently enjoy unescorted leave.

Nigel Evans MP said: "Each of these measures will help to ensure the safety of people living nearby and the people they are looking after.

"They are sensible steps that I hope are installed immediately."

Kemple View, which is run by Hertfordshire-based Partnerships in Care Ltd, houses patients who are referred under the Mental Health Act for treatment to stabilise and possibly rehabilitate them back into a manned hostel or into the community.

Security measures installed on all wards include restricted-opening windows, double entry doors and CCTV. The garden areas of all four wards are surrounded by three-metre high fencing.

The hospital is currently undergoing a £10million transformation, including the building of two new wards, an admin block and a new gymnasium, which will take the number of beds to 89.