A man has been stabbed in the face and arm during a dispute in the early hours of this morning.

Witnesses reported a dispute between a group of men at about 4.45 this morning in the Station Road area of Westcliff.

One resident, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: "I was woken up by shouting as I live by the station and saw out the window two black guys going mad at two white guys.

"After an altercation the black guys chased the white guys along Station Road past Valkyrie Road.

"I then left to see what the hell was going on and found a puddle of blood and followed the blood for a couple hundred yards to find a man in a flat hallway who had been stabbed just above the neck.

"The other guys ran off down Seaforth Road."

An Essex Police spokesman said the man suffered none life-threatening injuries.

He said: "We were contacted shortly before 5am today, Wednesday November 15, with reports of a disturbance involving a group of men in Station Road, Westcliff.

"A 34-year-old man was stabbed in the face and arm and taken to hospital. His injuries were not life threatening.

"The suspects were last seen running down Seaforth Road towards the seafront.

"Enquiries are ongoing to find them.

"Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident are asked to contact Southend CID on 101.

"Alternatively, contact independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org."

This is just the latest attack in a spate of knife incidents this week and comes as Essex Police have launched an anti-knife crime campaign.

We will bring you more on this when we get it.