The 56-year-old, who has not been named, drove himself to hospital after the incident despite bleeding heavily from the wound.

He eventually underwent emergency surgery at Scarborough General Hospital after police made a 21-mile dash to the man's Whitby home, North Yorkshire, to recover the severed organ, place it in ice and deliver it to surgeons.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire police said: "We understand the man had a painful medical condition with his penis which resulted in him taking the drastic action."

"We received a call from casualty asking us to retrieve the part from the man's house.

"We dashed up there and whisked it across to Scarborough Hospital packed in ice.

"We checked with the hospital later because our main concern was that the man could die through lack of blood, and were informed he was in theatre.

"We do not know what the outcome of that was other than that the man was stable."

Scarborough Hospital said it was prevented by patient confidentiality from revealing whether any operation to re-attach the man's penis had been a success.

The hospital confirmed the 56-year-old had undergone surgery and was back on a ward, but would not discuss the operation details.

Scarborough Health Trust spokeswoman Jilly Collinson said: "We are simply not able to give out any information.

"The confidential aspect of sensitive treatment is a part of patient care.