A man has been rushed to hospital after a stabbing.

Police were called to Third Avenue in Gillingham at 11.45pm on Wednesday.

A man was discovered with a stab wound and taken to hospital.

Officers remain in the area and are carrying out inquiries to establish the circumstances and have been spotted searching domestic waste bins and photographing items found in the street.

A resident of Third Avenue said he was woken up at around 1am when the air ambulance landed in the park behind his house.

He added: “It looked like police were looking for a knife or something last night. The road was closed off immediately and has been since.”

A neighbour a few doors down said they also only knew something had happened when they heard the air ambulance.

She added: “I looked outside and could see a person in the road on an ambulance trolley.”

The road was still closed this morning between the junction with Canadian Avenue and halfway down from the junction with Valley Road. It reopened at around 1pm.

Police officers and forensics are at the scene taking photographs of the road and searching garden bins.

Anyone who witnessed the assault or has information that could assist the investigation is urged to call 01634 792209 quoting 17-1715.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Emergency services were also called to an incident at a shop in Shakespeare Road on the corner of Byron Road at around 8pm.

Workers at the shop said a second person was injured. But when officers arrived no victim was found at the scene. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and to ensure the welfare of any potential victim.

Earlier this week a teenager was also stabbed in a play park in Mill Road and had his coat and bag stolen.

He was taken to a London hospital with injuries consistent with a stab wound and was in a stable condition.

The three incidents come in the same week as the launch of Operation Sceptre, an initiative to tackle knife crime across the UK bringing together all 43 police forces and British Transport Police in a week of intensified action.

North Kent Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Shaun White, said: ”Kent Police has a zero-tolerance policy for those who show a clear disregard for the safety of others by choosing to carry a weapon. We understand some recent incidents in Gillingham may have caused concern for residents however we are working quickly to identify and apprehend those involved.

“We are currently treating the recent knife-related crimes as isolated incidents and are continuing thorough investigations into all the circumstances.

“Members of the public can expect to see increased patrols in the area, and we are using all available officers and tactics to tackle violent offenders. This includes the deployment of specialist officers from dog, traffic, and firearms units.

“We are also continuing activity for Operation Sceptre, the national week-long campaign of intensified action against knife crime, an example of which is the extensive weapons search carried out in the area yesterday. Patrols are proactively pursuing arrests for identified offenders as well.’

“We urge anyone with information about the recent incidents or knowledge of people carrying weapons, to get in touch via the Kent Police website, or via the Crimestoppers online form.”