A COPY of the Koran was found dumped in a hospital’s grounds - less than a week after a two foot Virgin Mary statue was stolen from its chapel.

The Islamic holy book was spotted by Ishtiaq Akbar, 40, of St James’s Road, Blackburn, who was visiting his wife at Royal Blackburn Hospital on Thursday.

He had been on the third floor on his way to ward C11 to see his wife Farkhanda, 23, and his new born daughter when he saw the book from the window.

Mr Akbar, who has taken the book home fearing it would not be look after properly, said he was ‘very angry’ when he realised it was the hospital’s copy of the Koran and retrieved it with the help of staff.

He said: “I was very, very angry angry, I think it is just wrong. I am very, very disappointed in what they have done. It was an act of someone with no respect for anyone. We live in a multi-cultural society and people should have respect.

“I may also like to pass a message onto the hospital management to put in place some measure`s to prevent anything of the sort happening again not only for Koran but for any religious material no matter what religion it is from.”

Prior to this, on September 18, police said ‘despicable’ thieves had stolen a Virgin Mary statue by unscrewing it from a plinth in the chapel.

It was wrapped in a shawl and left the site. A replacement statue has been put in the chapel.

Rev Antonio Costa, of the chaplaincy team at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The Virgin Mary statue was taken from inside the chapel, and we are working with the police, who have been very helpful. One of our lay-Catholic volunteers has brought in a replacement statue.

“We can confirm that a copy of the Koran was found in the hospital grounds. I would like to thank the gentleman who spotted it and retrieved it.

“The Spiritual Care Centre is kept open at all times for patients, visitors and staff to use, and we trust visitors to respect the multi-faith facilities here. It is rare that this trust is breached.”