THE man charged with making a false bomb threat at Russells Hall Hospital is set to appear before a crown court judge next month.

Norman Taylor, an unemployed 43-year-old from Spiral Close, Halesowen, was charged with malicious communication after West Midlands Police received a call at 10am on Saturday (September 2).

The call claimed a bomb had been placed at the Dudley hospital, but after the hospital was put into 'lockdown' it was discovered that the call was a hoax.

Taylor was arrested from the hospital grounds on suspicion of making the call and was remanded in custody when he appeared before Dudley magistrates on Monday morning (September 4).

He will next appear in Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday, October 2.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said the force is not looking for anyone else as part of their investigation.

Following the incident, the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said the hospital was not evacuated and patients and staff were safe.

Diane Wake, chief executive of the trust, said: “A bomb threat at Russells Hall Hospital was a hoax. The police were called and a man has been arrested.

“As a precaution, some patients in the emergency department waiting area were asked to move outside whilst the police dealt with the individual.

“We did not have to evacuate the hospital. Staff followed protocol and placed the hospital in lockdown. People were prevented from leaving or entering the building.

“Patients and staff are safe and we are operating as normal.”