Police were today hunting a knifeman who violently stabbed a man in Colchester's Castle Park.

The victim, a 27-year-old Colchester man, was today recovering in hospital with serious head injuries.

Police sealed off an area of the park near the bandstand shortly after the attack at 7.30pm last night.

They had been called to a public order incident but on arrival found the injured man lying on the ground unconscious.

It is believed the attack may be drug or drink-related and detectives want to question a 22-year-old local man.

They are set to scour the area in search of the weapon, a sharp instrument - probably a knife.

At least eight people were thought to have witnessed the disturbance and some witnesses have come forward.

But police want to hear from anyone else who was in the park between 7pm and 7.30pm, particularly a man and woman walking together.

The victim had several stab wounds to his head but his condition was not thought to be lifethreatening.

Today he had regained consciousness and was "stable" at Colchester General Hospital.

Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said: "We are treating this as a serious assault, possibly aggravated by drink or drugs."

The prime suspect is described as a white man of stocky build. He was wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and brown boots.

A man and a woman were arrested and released without charge.

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