A 44-YEAR-OLD man has undergone emergency surgery after being stabbed in the chest.

Police were called to a house in Hollin Bridge Street, Blackburn, where Lee Craig was found with a single knife wound.

He was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital for surgery, where his condition was last night described as ‘stable and not life threatening.’ Yesterday, a police officer was guarding the front of the mid-terrace house, and another was at the back, by the yard gate.

The stabbing happened at just before 3pm on Monday.

One elderly neighbour said: “I saw the ambulance pull up on the corner of the street and the paramedics brought him out on a stretcher, lying to one side.

“The police have been at the house all night, guarding the front and back.

“I’ve lived here for 30 years, and the community is getting worse and worse. Since the houses have been rented out, we’ve had a lot of bother from people living there.

“When you’re on your own, it’s very worrying.”

Another neighbour said: “It’s a shock to hear that someone’s been stabbed so close to where you live, but there’s always trouble on that side of the street.”

It is thought that Mr Craig was known to his attackers but did not live at the address where the stabbing happened.

A police spokesman said: “At around 3pm on Monday, police were called to reports that a man had been stabbed inside an address on Hollin Bridge Street in Blackburn.

“A 44-year-old man was taken through to Royal Preston Hospital with injuries to his torso and is receiving treatment. He is said to be in a stable condition.”

A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 39-year-old man on suspicion of grevious bodily harm with intent. Both were yesterday in custody being questioned by officers.

A 46-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of wounding was released without charge.