A MAN covered in blood brandished a "massive knife" in a busy street in broad daylight yesterday.

Bystanders were shocked when the 35-year-old emerged from a chemist in Oxford Street, Brighton, and began cutting himself with what is thought to be a kitchen knife.

Witnesses called the police while others broke into tears or fled in fear at about 1.15pm.

Sarah Savage, 34, was passing when she saw the man, wearing a blue checked short-sleeve shirt and khaki shorts, in a doorway.

She told The Argus: "I just walked around the corner and there was this guy covered in blood from head to foot.

"My adrenaline was going. I thought it was a dangerous situation.

"He didn't look massively distressed. He was wandering around and seemed unaware that he had a knife in his hand. He didn't realise it was a problem for anyone. But there was quite a big commotion."

Police officers arrived at the same time as a bus pulling up to its stop, giving passengers onboard an unexpected and alarming scene.

Miss Savage, who lives in Brighton, said: "When the police came and tackled him I remember him saying, 'I don't want to hurt anyone.'

"I felt sorry for him. It's probably another failing of the mental health system to be honest."

Miss Savage tweeted afterwards: "OMG just seen a guy with a massive knife and covered in blood get taken down by the Brighton police in the middle of the street."

Nick Ford, who runs Nick Ford Photography in the street, was one of the first people to see it unfold.

The 32-year-old, who lives in Brighton, was approached by a friend warning him a man with a knife had come out of a nearby chemist.

Mr Ford told The Argus: "He was cutting himself. It was just horrendous and unreal to witness.

"It was a big knife, like a bread knife, at least six inches long.

"One man tried to approach him with some blue kitchen towel stuff but he got quite agitated.

"The bus stopped right where he was detained and there were all these poor people on the bus who saw this man being wrestled to the ground covered in blood.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Police were called to reports of a man with a knife in Ditchling Road, Brighton, at about 1.15pm on Thursday.

"Local neighbourhood officers arrived at the scene within minutes and a Taser was drawn, at which point the suspect dropped the knife. The Taser was not deployed.

"The road was temporarily closed while officers were in attendance and the scene was made safe.

"A 35-year-old year man from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and transferred to hospital with knife wounds, which are believed to be self-inflicted.

"The matter was dealt with swiftly and no other members of the public were harmed."