A POLICE officer today re-lived the moment he feared he would die when he was attacked by a man wielding a six-inch hunting knife.

PC David Taylor said he dodged lunges to his head and fell to the ground when he was set upon by Peter Pearson, 34, of Springfield Mews, Oswaldtwistle.

Today he said he could have been killed - as police said the incident, although very rare, highlighted the dangers facing officers.

Pearson was convicted by jury at Burnley Crown Court trying to stab a police officer and ordered to be detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act.

He was originally charged with attempted murder but convicted by a jury of attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Pearson also admitted possessing an offensive weapon, on September 17 last year.

PC Taylor has worked as an officer for just over two years.

He was in a mobile patrol unit when he recognised Pearson at a bus stop in Blackburn Road, Accrington, across from the Railway pub.

"I recognised him from somewhere. I had seen his picture but didn't know if he was wanted for something or not so I pulled over.

"Without a word of warning he pulled the serrated-edged knife from inside his clothing and seemed to suddenly go for my neck and head.

"I managed to step out of the way so I didn't get a blow to the body but fell over the pavement trying to dodge him.

"When I was on my back in the road he kept at me with the knife but I managed to knock the weapon from his hand with blows from my feet.

"I thought he was trying to kill me and I just reacted part from training and part from instinct.

"Something as unprovoked as this will probably never happen again in all my career.

"I class it as a successful outcome because he was restrained from hurting the public and myself."

PC Taylor eventually managed to retrain Pearson and handcuff him.

Sergeant John Kennedy, an officer for 13 years, said he had never heard of a similar incident in the area.

He praised PC Taylor for his actions and added: "The officer was able to preserve the safety of himself and innocent by-standers by establishing control and that is testimony to his courage and professionalism."

The court was told PC David Taylor was said to have struggled with him in what was described as a "frenzied attack".

The prosecution said it was fortunate the police officer had not been very seriously injured. Pearson was not in court to hear the verdict, psychiatrists had advised against him appearing.