A knife-wielding attacker slashed two men in Winchester before stealing a mobile phone from them.

The work colleagues were attacked by the knifeman, who was with another man, as they walked home from a city night-spot early on Saturday.

One man was stabbed in the face and needed eight stitches, the other suffered a minor stab wound in the arm and grazing to his chest. A female friend was verbally abused in the assault.

Detective Sergeant Gary Steward, of Winchester CID, said: "This sort of attack is becoming more and more prevalent in Winchester, as it is all over the country. We would advise people if approached by anyone at that time of night to be on their guard. We want anyone who heard or saw anything to get in touch with us immediately."

The group, who work for the same Winchester-based company, were walking home after a night out at The Guildhall Tavern, in The Broadway.

Police said the friends were approached by two men of mixed race, who asked them for a light at the junction of Middle Brook Street and the High Street, near Sainsbury's. The men became abusive towards the woman, who is 30 and comes from Southampton, and pulled a knife on the two men, who are aged 23 and 27.

The attackers fled the scene after demanding one of the men handed over his phone. Police arrested two men 10 minutes later and the victims were taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital for treatment and have now been discharged.

* Any witnesses to the attack, which happened at 2.30am, are urged to contact Det Sgt Steward at Winchester CID on 0845 045 45 45.