POLICE have launched a hunt after a man was stabbed in the back in Southampton.

The victim suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital after the attack, which happened near the junction of Carlton Crescent and Carlton Place, near London Road Brew House.

Officers have confirmed his injuries are not life threatening.

A white man in a grey hoody was seen fleeing the scene after the incident, which happened at about midday on Wednesday.

Blood could be seen on the pavement after the attack.

A shopkeeper in London Road said: "I heard a bit of commotion outside.

"I went to the door after a little while because it was still going on and I saw a man lying facedown outside the London Road Brew House.

"It looked like someone was putting pressure on a wound on his back.

"I was told that someone had been stabbed."

Elliott Rudge, 21, was getting his lunch yesterday when he saw paramedics attending to a man with no shirt on.

He said: “I would say he was in his mid-twenties. And he seemed to be holding a patch on his back. He was struggling. There were clothes all over the floor.

“Then as we came out after getting our lunch we saw a woman being patted down and two men were handcuffed and taken away in the police wagon.

“Four or five police cars were blocking in a silver Peugeot which had been pulled over.”

The man was being attended to outside the Brew House pub. Police officers were also seen using a sniffer dog in the area.

DS Andy Lynch said: “This incident happened in the middle of the day in a busy area of the city.

"Were you in the London Road area around this time?

"Did you witness this incident or see anyone running away from the scene towards the Courts? Please call 101 and quote 44170068945.”