A POLICE officer was left with an "horrendous" injury to his left eye after being headbutted at York railway station while making an arrest.

Officer PC Nick Storey was headbutted in the face while attempting to escort a man off a train, resulting in him losing consciousness on the platform for a short time and leaving him with a serious eye injury, the British Transport Police (BTP) said.

The officer was responding to a call for police assistance by staff on board a Northbound Cross Country service at York station.

The BTP said that when the officer attempted to escort the abusive man off the train, who was suspected of assaulting a member of train staff, he was headbutted in the face.

It added that the man was detained and has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. The investigation continues.

PC Storey attended hospital where he was released after treatment and taken home.

Superintendent Eddie Wylie said: "On a daily basis police officers put themselves in harm's way to deal with incidents to keep the public safe, it's part of the job, being assaulted isn't.

"I have spoken to PC Storey and despite his horrendous injury, he is in good spirits which is a testament to the excellent officer that he is."