A “VULNERABLE” father was “stabbed in the forehead” and slashed across the arm during a daylight knife attack on a Southampton street.

Shocked witnesses watched in horror as two men pushed their victim to the ground and repeatedly kicked his head.

Others tried to intervene and stop the attack, on Derby Road.

One attacker pulled out a knife and, according to a witness, stabbed the victim in the forehead, causing blood to run down his face.

A witness said the injured man returned to his feet and caught one of his assailants as he tried to escape.

Police arrived within minutes and arrested two men, both from Southampton.

As of last night, the pair remained in custody.

The incident took place on Tuesday at around 7.20pm.

One witness, who did not want to be named, said he saw the attackers get into a verbal altercation with their victim earlier in the day.

He said: “They came back about three hours later.

“That’s when they started attacking him. They recognised him from earlier.

“(The victim) ran towards where I was to get someone’s attention and then started running back towards them.

“He pulled one off a bike. He was running on adrenaline. How he did that I will never know.”

The witness added: “I’ve seen him since, he’s out of hospital.”

Another witness, Josie Carroll, 85, was watching television when she heard shouting outside her front door.

The grandmother-of-two, who has lived on Derby Road for more than 70 years, said: “I was shocked. I went outside, and I saw people shouting.

“I didn’t see a knife, I thought they just beat him up. They kicked him in the head.”

She added: “It’s a shock to hear about a stabbing outside your front door.”

Derby Road resident, Masood Muhammad, 43, also saw the incident.

He said: “My daughter shouted to tell me there was a fight outside – there was lots of shouting and screaming.

“We saw two guys on the ground. One was bleeding heavily from his arm and head.

He added: “I’m a little bit shocked. It’s not something I want my kids or anyone else’s kids to see.”

Julie Hadi, who runs Cash and Carry Halal Meat Centre, on Derby Road, said the victim was a regular customer.

The 36-year-old said he was a “vulnerable adult”, who suffered from epilepsy, and had a young daughter.

She said: “He’s got his problems but he is a not a trouble maker. He’s just in a situation where he is vulnerable. No-one deserves to be stabbed.”

Hampshire Constabulary sent out patrols yesterday to reassure residents and speak with witnesses.

A spokeswoman confirmed a 25-year-old man was taken to hospital with “serious” but not life threatening injuries.

She added: “A 29 and 42-year-old from Southampton, are in police custody at this time.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting the reference 44180151438.