A GP has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

Detectives launched an investigation after receiving a complaint of a sexual assault on August 9.

Dr Prakashchandra Jain, the only registered GP working from Askam Surgery in Parkland Drive, was arrested on suspicion of the assault.

Police confirmed the 69-year-old, who lives in Askam, has since been released under investigation.

Bosses at the clinical commissioning group which oversees general practitioner care in South Cumbria informed patients that Dr Prakashchandra Jain at Askam Surgery is currently not able to work earlier this month.

A spokeswoman from Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group refused to elaborate on the reasons for Dr Jain’s absence.

She said: “Dr Prakashchandra Jain, the General Practitioner at Askam Surgery, is currently unable to provide patient care.

“We would like to assure patients that Askam Surgery is open as usual and appropriate service cover is in place.”

The General Medical Council confirmed Dr Jain was still registered to practice as a doctor.

A spokeswoman for the regulatory body said: “We are not able to confirm whether we are investigating a doctor unless they have been interim suspended or have interim conditions on their practice.”

According to the Care Quality Commission, Dr Jain’s practice provides services to 1,593 patients.

The practice is rated as good overall. The key questions of are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led all are good, according to the latest report.