NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock as their quiet street became the scene of a violent stabbing.

A man has been arrested after the attack in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police officers were called to Langdale Road in Hove at around 1.30am where they found an injured man in his 20s and he was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Eye witnesses claimed the altercation was the result of a spat between two men at the Kariba Lodge hostel.

A neighbour who saw the incident said: “The whole thing was so scary. I think they [the group] had been drinking at the hostel.

“Then the fire alarm went off and they rushed out on the street and went up the road. When one of them came back down the road there was blood coming from his side, I think he was stabbed with a knife. He tried to go back into the hostel but was lying in the pathway and there was blood everywhere.

“By this time the police had arrived and they were having to keep him awake until the ambulance arrived.”

Another witness heard the commotion and said she saw a woman and two men having an argument on the street. She said one of the group left on a moped and then she heard someone shouting “Quick, call an ambulance”.

Later that morning neighbours found a pool of blood on the pavement some way up the road from the hostel.

Neighbours said the street is quiet and friendly.

It is mainly occupied by families with young children.

But some said there had been disturbances and problems with drugs at the hostel, which is understood to be run by Brighton and Hove City Council’s social services.

A woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I cannot believe this happened. It is such a friendly street.

“Most people know each other. Sometimes we get rowdy students walking up the road on a night out but nothing other than that. I hope the victim is ok.”

Another man said: “This is so worrying to hear this happened in our street, especially with so many young children around. We hardly ever have problems here but sometimes there are disturbances at the hostel.” Councillor Tom Bewick said he was shocked and that he would raise concerns about the hostel.

Police could not confirm if the arrested man was still in custody as The Argus went to print last night.The victim is understood to still be in hospital. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information can call Sussex police on 101.

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