A TRADE union has said more than half of its members have been at the receiving end of violent attacks in the last year.

UNISON said it had surveyed 1,000 mental health employees and 50 per cent based in the South East said they had been the victim of such attacks. Workers included people in hospitals, secure units and in the community. Its Struggling to Cope report was published yesterday.

Its regional head of health Tony Jones said: “These findings highlight a range of deep-rooted issues in mental health services that need to be addressed urgently."