A MAN was stabbed last night in the St Mary's area of Southampton.

Police were called to an address at Oxford Avenue after paramedics contacted them following a 999 call at 7.10pm.

The man, in his mid-30s, was treated at the scene and was conscious before being taken to Southampton General Hospital where his injuries were described as serious but not thought to be life-threatening.

Police cordoned off a 200-metre stretch of the road so the crime scene could be examined.

Insp Lisa Stevens of Southampton police said: "We can confirm that one white male has been taken to hospital with a serious stab wound to his body. We have sealed off the area where the incident occurred and scenes of crime officers are conducting a thorough examination of the scene."

She added that a woman had been detained at a house on Oxford Avenue by officers in connection with the stabbing but that they were still searching for another suspect in the local area.

It is understood the incident began inside one of the houses on the terrace-house lined street before it spilled out on to the pavement where the stabbing happened. No weapon had been recovered.

Officers from Hampshire's search unit and dog handlers were called to the scene to help with the search.

Residents within the sealed-off area were kept in their homes while forensic officers scoured the scene.