Witnesses who may hold vital clues about a Westcliff stabbing have been urged to come forward.

The victim, a 40-year-old man, is still in Southend Hospital, with stab wounds to his leg and back and a punctured lung.

He also suffered bad bruising to his face and neck. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery, but say he will remain in hospital until next week.

Police sealed off the Southbourne Grove area on Monday night after the victim was found sitting, bleeding on the pavement close to the newsagents at the junction with Fairfax Drive.

A trail of blood suggested he had staggered about 250 yards and crossed the road before an ambulance was called by a concerned passer-by.

Det Insp Steve Bright of Southend police is leading the investigation.

He said: "We want to hear from anyone who was in the area between 6pm and 9pm but particularly from those who saw a bleeding man limping along the pavement.

"We need to gather every piece of evidence to get a full picture of exactly what happened that night."

Some witnesses have already spoken to detectives, but they are still keen to trace everyone who saw the man or the incident.

One woman, who was walking with her daughter, has already described her horror at finding the bleeding and badly-beaten victim on the street.

Det Insp Bright added: "Small details may seem trivial, but they could be a vital piece of the jigsaw.

Give us the information and let us decide if it is relevant to the investigation."

If you can help, call CID at Southend police on 01702 431212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Crime scene - the newagents on the corner of Fairfax Drive and Southborne Grove where the man was found

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.