A SECOND man has been arrested in connection with a stabbing incident in a Kent town in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 37-year-old male victim was taken to hospital after the attack near the Parkwood shops at Wallis Avenue, Maidstone, just before 2.30am.

Police confirmed this morning that one man had been arrested and now a second man is also being held. Both suspects are in custody and being questioned by police.

About 20 police officers and police community support officers arrived at 4am with an incident unit, vans and cars to cordon off the car park and surrounding roads. The cordon was lifted just after 11am.

Specialist search officers and a handler with his dog were brought in to comb the area for clues, while, throughout the morning, uniformed officers and detectives made house-to-house inquiries.

Ch Insp Peter Wedlake, who was in charge of the operation at Wallis Avenue, said: "We are also doing some community reassurance and police community support officers are reassuring people that we are on top of this."

Rob Saunders, deputy manager at the convenience store in the parade of shops, said he arrived for work at 5.30am but had to sit in his car while police searched the area until about 9am.

"I live in Ashford so there was no pint in going home. I opened the shop about 10 minutes later and it’s been manic in here ever since."

He added: "I am not surprised that this has happened. There was a stabbing near here several months ago."

Father-of-six Jimmy Brooker, 39, of Mote Road, Maidstone, died from stab wounds after being found injured at a block of flats in Wallis Avenue last September.

Jamie Potter, 34, of Felderland Close, Maidstone, has been charged with his murder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01622 604260 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.