A MAN threatening to take his own life caused an explosion scare in Atherton today.

Police were called to Coniston Avenue in the early hours after reports that a man inside was in a distressed state and threatening to harm himself.

Because of fears of an explosion from a leaking gas pipe a British Gas team was called to scene.

The man, who is aged 44 but who has not been named, was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary with superficial cuts to his face, shoulder, legs and wrists. The man is understood to be a psychiatric patient.

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