Bent Crank Arm

I've been given the task of giving my housemates girlfriends bike a once over, she picked it up for 30 beans and i said i'd help out,

so after replacing the normal things tyers, tubes cables cleaning it, etc etc she said thhere is a noise, turns out the drive side crank arm is bent, must have had a big fall or something in its past,

its an old Elswick hopper shopper bike, the crank arm is hitting the chain guard as it spins, if i remove that it stops it but obviously i'd like to fix it, is it possible to:

1) bend it back
2) switch over the crank arms to remedy the problem
3) just get a new crank arm

whats the best option?

Burn it.
Praise Jeebus.

burn it? but metal doesn't burn

burn it? but metal doesn't burn

Try harder.

i have tried harder, i even put on some death metal to get in the mood, nothing.

I've bent some kids bike cranks back before - 1 piece bmx style things. No problems found. I suppose it depends on the crank, and how much

1) bend it back
2) switch over the crank arms to remedy the problem
3) just get a new crank arm

1) if its steel it should bend back with no problem. Aluminium alloy bit more problematical it might but then it may well be a problem with loss of strength.
2) cranks are handed you need to attach the chain ring.
3) plenty of cranks and bottom brackets come up on the site - not an expensive option and probably the best.

its defiantly steal, its an old old bike so i'll give the bending a go

was unsure about the swapping as there is no difference it seems between the arms, cos its this style http://www.huskybicycles.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000002/321-151.jpg but knowing my luck the chainring is permanently attached or something

Yes the chainring is swaged on i.e. pressed on shit-tight.