An increased police presence will be visible across Canvey as investigations continue into two stabbings.

Two people were stabbed just six hours apart on Monday evening.

The first incident took place at 4.10pm when a man was stabbed in the leg in Poplar Road, before a man was stabbed in the stomach and leg in Benderloch at 9.56pm.

Essex Police have insisted that police patrols on the island will increase as a direct result, and although there is not enough evidence to link both attacks, they are being treated as “targeted but isolated.”

Glenn Westley, District Commander for Castle Point, said: “At the moment, there is not enough evidence to link both stabbings.

“We have a number of working assumptions as we speak but we cannot link them based on the evidence we have at the moment.

“Investigations will continue, and although concerning for residents, they should be aware there is no direct threat to the public.

“We have a number of community police team patrols on Canvey and we are continuing to talk to anyone who witnessed either incident. There will be a higher police profile and a higher police presence on the island as a reaction to these two incidents.

“We want patrol cars on the island, and to increase our presence and we hope that goes some way to reassuring concerned residents.”

Both victims are in stable condition. The first attack saw a man in his twenties set upon by two men and stabbed in the leg as well as smashing his car window.

In the second incident, the victim’s car windows were also smashed and he was stabbed in the stomach and leg after he was chased down an alleyway by two men.

Police have issued descriptions of the suspects involved in the first incident, but no description is available for the second.

The first suspect is mixed-race, aged in his twenties, around 5ft 11ins, of stocky build and was wearing a black jacket with a fur hood.

The second suspect is in his twenties, around 5ft 11ins, of slim build and was wearing a dark green khaki jacket.

Call Basildon CID on 101.