A doctor has been injured as a prisoner made an attempt to escape during a routine medical appointment at hospital.

It is understood the inmate, a 31-year-old man held at HMP Shotts, North Lanarkshire, was at Wishaw General Hospital on Friday when he threatened security staff and made the escape bid.

G4S security staff and a doctor managed to restrain the individual, but the medic later noticed he had suffered a laceration to his arm in the fracas.

It is not clear exactly how the injury was sustained.

The inmate has since been returned to the prison.

A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) said: "We can confirm that an incident took place at Wishaw General Hospital involving a prisoner from HMP Shotts.

"The prisoner returned to custody at HMP Shotts and we will be working with Police Scotland to investigate this incident."

A G4S spokesman said: "During a routine hospital appointment a prisoner attempted to evade custody but was immediately apprehended by G4S staff.

"The prompt actions of our officers averted a more serious incident and demonstrates the challenging situations our staff can face while carrying out their duties."

An NHS Lanarkshire spokeswoman said: "We can confirm there was an incident at Wishaw General Hospital and police are currently investigating.

"It did involve a member of staff who did not receive any serious injuries."

Police Scotland said they were alerted to an alleged assault on a member of hospital staff at around 1.30pm.

A 31-year-old man will be the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal, a force spokesman said.