A KNIFE victim was last night recovering in hospital, as detectives probed the latest in a growing number of Swindon stabbings.

The incident, which closed off parts of Old Town for much of Sunday, brings the tally of stabbings in the town to three in the past month.

A 36-year-old man was taken to Great Western Hospital at around 6.30am yesterday morning with serious injuries to his neck and back.

It is understood that he was attacked in Godwin Court, a block of exclusive serviced apartments between Hoopers Place and the High Street.

Sources described the scene inside the block as “very messy”, with blood on walls and carpets.

Police sealed off a portion of the High Street outside the Old Town Co-operative store, while forensics officers could be seen photographing items in an alleyway outside Godwin Court.

Detectives toured Old Town businesses hunting for CCTV footage. A dog handler and armed officers from specialist police unit Tri-Force also attended the scene.

Wiltshire Police yesterday appealed for witnesses to the incident to come forward. A spokesman said: “The public are likely to see an increased police presence in the Old Town area as our enquiries progress. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call us on 101 and quote log number 76.”

Detectives were said to be looking at potential links between the stabbing and reports of a fight near SUJU nightclub on Saturday night that saw police officers swarm into the High Street.

Police were called at around 10pm to the disorder and a group of young men fled towards Hoopers Place.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said detectives were keeping an “open mind” about whether the two incidents were linked. No arrests had been made in relation to the two incidents by the time the Adver went to press .

Old Town residents and businesses owners said they had been surprised by the police presence. One Newport Street businesswoman, who did not want to be named, said: “I could hear a lot of ambulances and police going by.”

Another man, 57, walking his dog, added: “I didn’t know we had that many police cars in Wiltshire.”

Online, people feared the stabbing was merely the latest in a line of violent assaults on the town’s streets.

Richard Clark said: “Far too much stabbing going on in Swindon.” June Young added: “Hope the London blight isn’t coming here.”

In March, exactly a month on from yesterday’s stabbing, a 17-year-old was rushed to hospital after being attacked inside the grounds of Eldene Primary School by a knife gang. An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Four days later, another man, 33, received slash wounds to his back in an attack that took place near the Oasis Leisure Centre. Police said the incidents were not linked.

Responding to suggestions that knife crime was on the rise in Wiltshire, police and crime commissioner Angus Macpherson said earlier this month: “Nationally, and in the county, more offences involving a knife, or a sharp instrument, are being recorded but I want to reassure residents that Wiltshire is still a safe place to live and work – the actual number of knife-related crime is still low in comparison to other areas in the UK.”

“We are fortunate that our officers, and residents, do not have to contend with the devastating scenes seemingly happening daily on London’s streets but I am determined that we will continue to do as much as we can to eradicate knife crime in Wiltshire. Just one knife-related incident is one too many and I am acutely aware of this.”