A MAN was stabbed in the head with a fork and hit with a dumbbell in a daylight attack.

The 42-year-old was left in need of stitches following the brutal assault in Wimborne Road, Southend.

It is thought he knew his attacker, believed to be aged in his 20s.

Acting chief Insp Gary Lane, Southend district commander, said: “The victim has sustained a cut to the top of his head, requiring stitches, and some other cuts and bruises.

“The attacker has hit the victim with a dumbbell to the head and then stabbed the victim with a fork to his head and surrounding areas.

“It’s the kind of disturbance that might have caused a bit of commotion in the street so we are appealing for anyone with information to contact us.”

The assault took place at about 10.30am on Thursday.

The attacker is described as white, 6ft tall, of thin build with brown hair.

He was wearing a red baseball cap, t-shirt and jeans.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said he was “not surprised” by the attack, after witnessing two other assaults near the scene last week.

He said: “There is something kicking off every day. The problems are chronic.

“A lot of it is caused by drugs. I don’t know what caused this to happen but drugs probably have something to do with it.”

An ambulance service spokesman said: “We were called to Wimborne Road, Southend.

“An ambulance crew and officer attended to a man who had suffered a head wound.

“He was taken to Southend Hospital for further treatment. His injury is not believed to be life-threatening.”

Anyone with information can call Southend CID on 101.