A WOMAN was taken to hospital with injuries to her arm following a reported assault at Poole Cemetery.

Dorset Police and South Western Ambulance Service were called around 3.30pm, Wednesday, after receiving a call claiming a woman had been attacked.

Armed police were among the officers dispatched to the cemetery in Dorchester Road, where they found the woman with minor injuries and launched a search for her attacker.

One witness told the Daily Echo the woman was screaming that she'd been stabbed.

This witness, who asked not to be named, said: "This woman was by the wall, by the gate. We were driving in to put flowers on my grandmother's grave.

"She came out screaming, begging us for help. She was saying she'd been stabbed and she did have blood on her arm.

"We reversed out and got her to follow us, then we called the police. We stayed with her until the police arrived."

Other witnesses said the area was quickly cordoned off, and cemetery visitors were temporarily barred from entering. The cemetery was open as usual on Thursday.

A Dorset Police spokesman confirmed: "We received a call at 3.32pm to reports of a woman being assaulted at Poole Cemetery, Dorchester Road, Poole.

"Police including armed officers attended the scene to search for the male offender, the ambulance also attended and the victim was taken to Poole Hospital with non life-threatening injuries."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the ambulance service also confirmed paramedics were called after receiving reports a female had suffered an arm injury.

"We sent an ambulance along, they arrived and confirmed it was a minor injury and she was taken to Poole Hospital," said the spokesman.

Borough of Poole head of legal and democratic services Tim Martin said: "We are aware of an incident that took place at Poole Cemetery requiring emergency services to attend. We would review our security measures at the cemetery if requested by Dorset Police but at this time we have not received any guidance asking us to do so."

It is understood no arrests have been made.