����ý

The police watchdog is appealing for witnesses who saw a blind man Tasered by a police officer in Lancashire.

Colin Farmer, 62, was stunned by a policeman who was looking for a man walking through Chorley with a samurai sword on 12 October.

The officer is said to have mistaken Mr Farmer's white stick for the sword.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it was particularly keen to speak a man and woman who left a nearby restaurant.

Mr Farmer, who was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged, is suing Lancashire Police.

The IPCC, which is investigating the Tasering, said it wanted to hear from anybody who was on Peter Street at 18:35 BST.

Two strokes

A statement from the commission said: "The IPCC is keen to speak with any witnesses who saw the incident and, in particular, a man and a woman who left the Parmesan and Pepper restaurant in Peter Street at the time of the incident."

Lancashire Police said it was investigating the incident and the officer's Taser had been withdrawn.

Mr Farmer, who is registered blind and has suffered two strokes, said he had thought he was being attacked by thugs when it had happened.

He was walking to a pub to meet friends at the time and said the Tasering had forced him to drop his stick and fall to the ground.

A man carrying a samurai sword was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.