AN EYE-WITNESS has spoken of her shock after a man was stabbed in broad daylight in Bournemouth town centre.

Members of the public walking through Gervis Place or waiting for buses saw the knifing, which happened on Monday evening at 6.35pm.

The incident is also believed to have been captured on dash cam.

Armed officers rushed to the street after the violent incident was reported.

The stretch was cordoned off between Westover Road and the EE shop while investigations were carried out.

A bin and the front of a shop next to the R bus stop were also cordoned off.

Although a 19-year-old Poole man was arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, he was later released without charge.

No further arrests have been made, although police say their investigations into the incident continue.

The shirtless victim was seen with blood pouring down his arm, stomach and legs. He did not suffer life-changing injuries and was discharged from hospital after treatment.

Initially, police and paramedics rushed to Gervis Road on the East Cliff after the location was given incorrectly.

The witness said she had been in the Gardens with her daughter when she walked past a group of people.

As she boarded her bus, walking to the top deck to find a seat, she heard shouting.

“I thought to myself, ‘What’s going on?’” she said.

“As the bus pulled away, I could see the group was in the middle of the road.

“One of the men had his shirt flapping about. He was shouting at someone in the Gardens.

“They all came out and stood in front of the bus.

"It was crazy – I didn’t see him get stabbed but I saw it all happening afterwards.”

The witness took photographs in case police needed help identifying the offender.

“I thought the bus wouldn’t go, but it just pulled away, which I was surprised by,” she said.

“When the bus got to the roundabout by Asda, we were stopped by a police officer who said there’d been a stabbing but they didn’t know exactly where it was.

“I did feel for the poor guy who was hurt.

"I'd guess he was just waiting for the emergency services to arrive.”

She said members of the public had carried on walking by as the row broke out.

“It was so strange – people were just going by when he was pouring with blood,” she said.

“It all happened in broad daylight. I just couldn’t believe it. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

A spokesperson from Dorset Police: “We were called to reports of a man found with stab injuries.

“The man was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.”

Police also said an investigation is under way to “identify the offender”.

Buses were unable to stop in Gervis Place during the investigation.

Outbound services used the flyover via Bournemouth Pier while inbound services served Westover Road and circled back via the pier.