A WOMAN pulled a knife out of her bag and started stabbing her arms after telling shoppers that she wanted to kill herself.

The horrific scenes took place just after 10am this morning, Wednesday, in Booths supermarket on Stanley Road.

Police confirmed that the woman – named as Claire Tomlinson, 28, from Knutsford – had been taken to Macclesfield General Hospital where she was being detained under the Mental Health Act.

The Guardian has learned that she pulled a knife out and started to harm herself in the wine aisle of the supermarket, as shoppers carried out their weekly shop.

An eyewitness, a 79-year-old man from Knutsford, who did not wish to be named, said: "I was just looking at buying a bottle of sherry when she came up to me.

"She pulled the knife out of her bag and said 'Cross me, I'm trying to kill myself' and then she did it.

"She was stabbing her arms and there was blood everywhere all over the floor, it was absolutely horrific.

"When you see something like that it is very traumatising.

"I couldn't get away at the time because there were ambulance staff and police at the entrance, so I had to wait 30 minutes until I could leave."

Police confirmed that Miss Tomlinson – who is known to mental health care professionals – was due to be at Knutsford Crown Court this morning, Wednesday, where she was due to stand on a charge of assaulting ambulance staff in 2009.

The case was adjourned in her absence.

The Guardian spoke to the deputy manager at Booths but he could only say that a woman was taken to hospital earlier in the day and did not wish to comment further on the incident.

Did you see the incident? Email james.wilson@guardiangrp.co.uk or call the newsdesk on 01606 813617.