THREE men were arrested following a late night town centre incident that left a 30-year-old man needing hospital treatment for stab wounds.

Police discovered the injured man after being called to reports of an unconnected vehicle collision in Newent’s Broad Street around 1am on Wednesday, February 5.

They subsequently arrested two men at a nearby property on suspicion of attempted murder while a third was held on suspicion of affray.

Gloucestershire Police confirmed that they called an ambulance and the injured man, who had wounds to his abdomen, was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. His injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

A force spokesperson said a 26-year-old man from Gloucester and a 25-year-old man from Newent who were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder were later released on bail to return to a police station at the end of the month.

A 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of afray was also released on bail to the end of the month.

Police erected a scene guard at the site of the alleged incident while officers carried out a forensic examination.

It was the second major police incident in the normally quiet market town in three days.

Armed police descended on the town on Sunday, February 2, before a local man was arrested following a hunt involving the police helicopter and dogs.

Gloucestershire Police said the arrest was in connection with an assault and other offences which had happened in Gloucester earlier in the evening.

Searches reportedly took place at several addresses in the town, including the Black Dog pub in Church Way.

A force spokesperson said: “Shortly before 7.10pm a member of the public reported that a man had made off from a petrol forecourt in Longford without paying for his fuel.

“The member of the public also reported that the man was believed to have assaulted a woman at a separate location in the city some time earlier.

“Armed officers responded and, supported by colleagues from the police dog unit and national Police Air Service (NPAS), they conducted searches of a number of locations in and around Newent including a local public house.

“Shortly before 9pm a 26-year-old man from Newent was arrested on suspicion of assault, making threats to kill, theft of a motor vehicle and making off without payment.”