A WOMAN is fighting for her life after being stabbed in Boscombe yesterday.

Police are conducting a major investigation after the victim, who is in her 30s, was discovered in Walpole Road shortly after 4pm.

However, it is understood that she may have been knifed in nearby Windham Road before being dumped at the second location.

The victim is thought to have been stabbed in the chest and leg. She was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital for treatment, and remains in a life-threatening condition.

No one has yet been arrested in connection with the incident.

It came hours after a man suffered stab wounds in Southbourne yesterday morning. It is not thought the two incidents are connected. 

Manuel Texeira, who lives close to where the woman was discovered, said: “This is very unusual - it's a quiet road.

“I haven't had any trouble here. It's a sad situation. I'm very sad for this poor woman.”

His thoughts were echoed by businessman Harry Seccombe, who said overcrowding in properties in the Walpole Road area can lead to problems.

“They keep saying Boscombe is getting better and spending money here and there but that won't change the real nature of a place. It's a difficult situation,” he said.

One man, who did not want to be named, saw the woman's body lying on the ground from his window.

“I just saw the poor girl on the floor,” he said.

“It's very sad. I do believe things are getting better here though, although this is an awful thing to have happened.”

A spokeswoman from the South Western Air Ambulance said the woman suffered approximately three stab wounds.

She added: “The casualty was taken by land ambulance to Royal Bournemouth Hospital where she was met by air ambulance and taken to Southampton General Hospital.”

Police were expected to remain at both roads into the night, with specialist CSI teams seen investigating an Enterprise van parked in Walpole Road.

Officers could be seen taking swabs from the seat of the vehicle as part of their enquiries.