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A POLICEMAN was taken to hospital yesterday after being attacked by a claymore-wielding maniac who ran amok in a seaside town.

Dozens of cops, including armed response teams, swarmed through the centre of Largs, Ayrshire, to subdue the man who was seen swinging the sword above his head.

It is understood he used it to smash the windscreen of a police car before launching an attack on the officer, who suffered cuts to his hands as he defended himself.

Reinforcements then pounced and restrained the man using CS spray in a car park in the town’s Gateside Street.

An employee of fish and chip ­restaurant Blue Lagoon said he sprinted to lock the doors as the man prowled the street before taunting police to “come on”.

Derek Cherrie, who works as a fryer, said: “He appeared outside the door. He came from behind the shop where some of the staff had gone for a cigarette.

“The restaurant was full so I rushed to lock the door to protect the customers.

“About 20 police officers were after him. He crossed the road and brandished his sword at them.

“I have never seen a sword so big in my life. It was like something out of The Highlander film. It was massive.

“He was brandishing it above his head. He was goading the police telling the police to ‘come on’.

“He’d walked a good distance around the town before they were able to ­apprehend him.”

(Image: Stephen Gibson / Buchanan Photos)

The injured officer was being treated at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock last night. No one else was hurt.

Police Scotland said they were called to Gogo Street in Largs at about 4pm.

They added: “Officers were confronted by a man who was allegedly carrying a large bladed weapon.

“A police vehicle was damaged and one officer sustained a minor injury.

“CS spray was deployed. Armed response officers attended the incident.

“A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”