A MAN who was stabbed while walking through a city centre park in Southampton has been released from hospital.

The 53-year-old victim of the unprovoked assault needed stitches in his back after being attacked as he walked through East Park.

Detectives say that, despite previous information, it is now clear there was no argument between the pair in the run-up to the incident, between 2.15pm and 3pm on Sunday.

Location of Park Walk

The man was taken to Southampton General Hospital and released yesterday.

Now police have issued a fresh appeal and are urging people who were in the park to come forward if they believe they saw the attacker. They have also stepped up patrols.

Det Con Jonny Hyland, who is investigating the crime, said: “We have had a good response from members of the public which has identified many lines of inquiry.”

The offender was white, 25 to 30 years old, around 5ft 11in to 6ft, of medium to heavy build (14 to 16 stone in weight) and with a ginger beard. He was wearing a dark tracksuitstyle top and bottoms and a black woolly hat or cap.

• Call Operation Corfe team at Shirley CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.