A MAN needed hospital treatment after he was stabbed near a Hampshire beauty spot.

Emergency services were called to a serious assault near the Romsey Barge Canal at about 3.50pm on Sunday to reports that the man had been found with injuries to his back.

It is believed the man was found near to a bridge over the canal at Waterside Road, near Cupernham Lane.

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service confirmed that the air ambulance was called out to Mercer Way to “reports of a male who had been seriously assaulted”.

They added: “It was reported as wounds that could have been made by a sharp implement.”

While paramedics rushed to the scene the spokesman said injured man was up and walking and paramedics realised “he wasn’t as injured as initially feared”.

The 24-year old man was treated at the scene and taken to Southampton General Hospital by road.

A police spokesman described their injuries as “superficial” and a South Central Ambulance spokesman confirmed that paramedics had found the injuries were caused by a sharp implement.

It is not know how the injuries were caused but some residents said they were told the man was stabbed.

A spokesman from Hampshire police said: “While an investigation has begun to establish what took place, it is believed that this was an isolated incident.”

A shopkeeper at Mercer Way Premier Stores, who did not want to be named, said: “Lots of people are saying it’s been a stabbing. There are lots of different reports.”

Residents in Waterside Road pointed out to the Daily Echo what they believe to be blood on the footbridge.

One woman who did not want to be named, said of the victim: “He’s going to be all right. He was stood on the Oxley Gate, I thought he had fallen into the prickles [brambles].

"He was stood up, he looked OK. I would have helped him otherwise.

“I was on my way walking my dog. We live on the same estate. I didn’t think anything of it.”

Another resident, David Rogers, said: “There were two paramedics and two police men. There was certainly commotion going on.”

Lucy and Barrie Brown live on the opposite side of the canal in The Meadows.

Barrie said: “People tend to stop on the bridge there to talk. You can hear them particularly at night.”

Police are appealing for anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference 44160286008.