South Shields stabbing: What we know so far as man is in critical condition as woman remains in custody

The 24-year-old was taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary by the North East Ambulance Service following an incident in Whiteleas Way, South Shields, in the early hours of Monday, December 23.

His condition this afternoon has been described by police as critical but stable.

Emergency services were alerted to reports of an assault at an address in the street at around 3am.

Inquiries have led armed officers from Northumbria Police to Johnson Street this afternoon.

A 28-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the attack, and Northumbria Police’s inquiries are ongoing.

Employees at some businesses on Whiteleas Way were left unable to get into work on Monday morning due to a large police cordon at the scene, and nearby residents spoke of their shock at such an incident so close to home.

A 31-year-old mother, who did not wish to be named, told the Gazette it was “really scary” and that the assault left her “frightened” to walk around with her child.

A man, 77, added: “It's getting worse up here, I don’t know what’s going on. It’s terrible that somebody has been stabbed, absolutely terrible.”

The police cordon remains in place around Dicksons and Make That Bet.

Officers had scaled back the taped off area by around 10.30am after crime scene investigators completed a search of the area from the bookmakers up to the Nisa store, with drains also checked as part of inquiries.

This afternoon, the force confirmed inquiries being carried out by armed officers in Johnson Street, off Dean Road, are in connection with the suspected knife attack.

An ambulance service spokeswoman confirmed to the Gazette that it sent a double-crewed ambulance, one crew from its Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and a doctor to the scene in Whiteleas Way.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Northumbria Police on 101 quoting log 108 23/12/19 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.