A MAN was injured following an assault in West Howe, Bournemouth, on Wednesday night.

Police were quick to arrive at the scene around 10pm after a man was reportedly stabbed at a property in the Oakmead Gardens area.

Armed officers, police dogs and the NPAS helicopter were all in attendance.

The property was cordoned off the following morning and crime scene investigators were called in.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "Officers were called to reports of an assault at an address in the Oakmead Gardens area of Bournemouth.

“Officers attended, including armed response, police helicopter and officers from the dog section, and conducted a search.

“One man had suffered a cut to his back and was taken to Poole Hospital for treatment. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

A 24-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy have been arrested over the incident.

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service confirmed they treated a male casualty for a back wound.

"We were called at 10.10pm and treated one male casualty for a cut on his back. We left the scene around half an hour later."

Residents reported seeing a man on the ground and several police officers with guns searching the area.

Several neighbours said they heard shouting during the evening and had been told a stabbing had happened.

Resident Yvonne Bartaby said: “When I heard it was a stabbing, it put the fear of God in me.

“It’s too close to home.”

Edward Pickering said he was on his way home from work when he saw two men “chasing after each other” towards the property.

“They started shouting and getting aggressive with each other and ten minutes later I saw the police arrive.

Susan McVey, who has lived in the area for 12 years, said she had seen a lot of police and ambulance activity.

She added it was the first violent incident she had known of while she had been in the area.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said she heard a lot of police in the area. “The couple in that house had recently moved in and had a days-old baby,” she said.

“It was a very quick police response.”

She said she discovered the incident was a stabbing when a police officer came to her door to ask questions.

“They had only been there a month,” she added.

“I’m very surprised. It really stirred me and my husband up. We couldn’t go to bed.

“It’s so shocking when this happens on your doorstep.

“The crime level in Bournemouth seems to be catching up with that in cities.

“It’s normally so lovely here.”