A MAN remains in hospital in a stable condition after a suspected stabbing in County Durham on Sunday.

Emergency services were called to Oaklea, a cul-de-sac off Larch Avenue, in Shildon, at around 2pm to reports a man had been stabbed several times.

The victim, aged 44, was airlifted by the Great North Air Ambulance Service to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where he arrived in a serious condition.

The Northern Echo: Police tape and officers at the property in Shildon where there was a suspected stabbing

Police tape and officers at the property in Shildon where there was a suspected stabbing

On Monday, his condition was classed as stable and his injuries described as serious, but not life-threatening.

Police said it is believed the incident took place at a different address in the town at some point during the day.

Officers searched a number of properties in the Shildon area as part of the investigation but no arrests have been made.

Witnesses reported seeing paramedics carrying a man out from the property on a stretcher before placing him inside an ambulance.

It is believed the man, who was described as being covered in a blanket, was then transported to the waiting air ambulance nearby.

Drew Suttle, a local resident, saw around four or five police vehicles, a road ambulance and the helicopter arriving at the scene.

He said: “The police started rushing to the scene and an ambulance came about five minutes later.

The Northern Echo: A police van on Oaklea, in Shildon, where there was a suspected stabbing

A police van on Oaklea, in Shildon, where there was a suspected stabbing

“It happened in quite a dense residential area and it was all a bit of a mad rush.

“They were trying to get into the small street but access isn’t great. I left at about 2.50pm and that’s when the ambulance took off.

“There were officers keeping people back and the house concerned was taped off.”

Another witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I spoke to a girl who was on the phone to police and she told me apparently someone had been stabbed.

"Then they brought him out on a chair and put him into the ambulance.

"He looked like death warmed up. He had a blanket up to his chin and it looked as though he had an oxygen mask on."

Police tape was in place around the property and officers were still there at around 5.30pm on Sunday.

Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.