POLICE are treating the stabbing of a man in a mass brawl as ‘attempted murder’.

Jamie Mulcahy, 25, was stabbed in the chest in Bacup town centre during a fight involving more than 20 people.

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Two people, both from Bacup, have been arrested in connection with the incident and were last night in police custody.

Mr Mulcahy was also said to be in a ‘serious but stable’ condition in hospital.

Burnley Road, Yorkshire Street and St James’s Square were cordoned off for hours by police investigating the attack, which happened at around 2.50am on Saturday.

The North West Ambulance Service said Mr Mulcahy, who was stabbed once in the chest, was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Bacup councillor Steve Hughes, whose Irwell ward covers part of the town centre, condemned the attack.

He said: “It is completely out of order. Obviously the police are still investigating what happened, but no action deserves this sort of reaction.

“My thoughts go out to the family of the man injured. It is an absolutely shameful incident. What it also doesn’t help is people’s overall perception of the town, “You get people making comments about the town in general because of things like this, when we are trying to make it a more appealing place to go.

“It is completely unacceptable and I hope the full weight of the law comes down on those responsible.”

Lancashire police’s Force Major Investigation Team has appealed for witnesses to come forward after the group involved in the fight ran off.

Detective Superintendent Lee Halstead said: “We are currently on with a number of inquiries and are asking that any witnesses, or indeed anyone with information about this serious incident, come forward. I am particularly keen to speak to anyone who was on, or in the vicinity of, Yorkshire Street on Saturday between 2.30am and 3am.

“Similarly, I would ask anyone who may have private CCTV of this to let us know.”

A 24-year-old woman from Bacup has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, while a 25-year-old man, also from Bacup, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit section 18 wounding.

Detective Inspector Vinnie DeCurtis said: “There were numerous people involved but we are still trying to ascertain what led to the incident. We’ve got varying reports of a big fight between different factions.

“There’s been some sort of confrontation between groups of individuals down there.”

The police cordon affected early morning motorists in Bacup on Saturday, with Rosso diverting its 465 bus service to Todmorden through South Street and Hammerton Green.

Buses were unable to serve most town centre stops and the 464, 465 and 482 services were forced to use Union Street to travel between Market Street and Rochdale Road.

The cordon at Burnley Road and Yorkshire Street was lifted at around 8.40am, but it remained in place around Bacup Library, in St James’s Square, until late Saturday afternoon.

DI DeCurtis added: “The man is receiving treatment in hospital and we have officers up there too. There are clearly lots of witnesses and statements to take. We know he has been stabbed in the chest and now we have to find how that came about. There were lots of people out and about who can help us. We are keeping an open mind.”

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service confirmed: “A 25-year-old male was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital and is in a very serious condition.”

Anyone with information can contact Lancashire police on 101 quoting incident reference 176 of November 22, 2014.