A MAN has been taken to hospital after being stabbed in the back.

Police said the man, who is in his 20s, suffered a single stab wound to his back after being attacked in Randal Street, Blackburn.

The incident happened around 6.45pm last night.

Ikhlaq Hussain, manager of Grillers takeaway in Randal Street, said the man came into his restaurant following the stabbing.

He said: "He came in holding his phone with blood on his hands.

"He said 'I've just been stabbed, I need an ambulance' and I made the call.

"There was a lot of blood all over, he was trying to stop the bleeding so both his hands were full of blood.

"The paramedics called the police as soon as they saw him because they knew something serious had happened."

The man was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

A spokesman for North West Ambulance said he had suffered a major trauma.

She said: "We have taken a patient in his early 20s to hospital.

"He was taken in with a major trauma."

Shear Brow ward councillor Hussain Akhtar said he was 'very shocked' by what had happened.

He said: "I went down as soon as I heard.

"I know the young lad's family, they are good, gentle people.

"It's a terrible thing to happen, I was very shocked.

"I don't know why it happened, it could have been as a result of an argument or something more.

"I'm worried about where the knife came from, where would someone get hold of such a thing.

"We haven't had an incident like this in the area in 30 years, it's unacceptable.

"I don't want this in Blackburn, not in any town, not in any community .

"In times like these, it is important for the community members to come together and take care of each other.

"As a councillor and a community leader I ask young people to please stay away from situations like this."

A police spokesman said no arrest has been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting log number 1253 of March 15, 2018.