WATCH: Police won't say whether major operation in Langley Park is connected to Kelloe stabbing death probe

Dale Arnold died in hospital after being repeatedly stabbed in a disturbance in Front Street, Kelloe on Wednesday afternoon.

UPDATE: Kelloe fatal stabbing investigation enters second full day

Police made a direct appeal to the suspect to hand himself in and warned anyone harbouring the fugitive that they could also face prosecution.

On Thursday teatime a major armed operation was carried out at the former pit village of Langley Park.

Eye-witnesses described large numbers of police sealing off all three major roads into the County Durham village at about 4pm.

The 45-minute operation appeared to be centred on Durham Street and included armed officers as well as the dog support unit.

Paul Temple, landlord of the Langley Park pub, which overlooks the terrace at the centre of the police operation said he saw at least seven police vehicles as well as armed response officers carrying out the operation.

“They had the whole of the village shut off, every entrance into the village was closed,” he said. “You don’t expect that sort of activity in a small village.

“At the time there were about ten or 11 people in the pub. I saw the armed response officers going across the road but didn’t see anything after that. I saw three armed officers in full body armour with helmets and everything.

“There have been a lot of rumours. There was quite a few people gathered outside to watch.”

One person, who spoke anonymously, told The Northern Echo: "I was in the local Spar and saw loads of police vans come around the road and saw loads of armed police with a dog handler jump out and surround a house.

"All roads in and out of Langley Park were closed to all traffic."

A spokesman for Durham Police said they could not comment on the reports and did not say whether the operation was linked to the killing.

Earlier in the day, Chief Inspector Mick Bird issued a direct plea to the man they want to speak to in connection with the incident.

His name is widely known, but police are not making it public.

“We are actively searching for you and we will find you," said Chief Insp Bird.

“Please hand yourself in. I have officers available to meet you wherever it is you are and all you need to do is contact 101”.

Chief Insp Bird said they would not release the identity of the suspect “as it could frustrate the investigation”.

However, he added: “We have a number of police resources in the area pursuing this individual at this time.

“We have a number of lines of enquiry we are pursuing to locate the suspect.

“I appreciate that in circumstances like this members of the public can be particularly concerned, but this is an isolated incident and the people were known to each other.

“It's not a random attack and there is no evidence to suggest at this time there is any risk to the wider public”.

Chief Insp Bird said the motive for the attack was not yet known and confirmed that officers had not yet recovered the weapon.

The scene in Langley Park. Photo sent in by an Echo reader

Mr Arnold, who lived in School Avenue in the village, was taken to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough by ambulance, but died a short time after arrival.

Neighbours today spoke of their shock at his death.

Police carrying out investigations outside the deceased's house today

Kane Stephenson, 21, said he regularly saw him walking his dog through the village. He added: “He was a quiet guy. He never bothered anyone.

“It's a disgrace what happened. I hope they get whoever did this soon”.

Another former neighbour added: “I saw him just yesterday just before it happened. There was no sign of any trouble.

“He never caused anybody any harm. He was a really nice person he never did anything to hurt anyone at all.

“It comes as a great shock”.

A post-mortem examination on Mr Arnold’s body is due to be carried out later today and police are continuing to search the area for the suspect and clues to the killing.

A police cordon remains in place in part of the village around the scene of the altercation. Forensic teams were today searching the hedgerows and drains leading out of the village, while the area around the town’s war memorial was cordoned off this morning.

The man leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry, said: “Mr Arnold has tragically lost his life in a County Durham village street in the middle of the afternoon.

“Our enquiries reveal that a man was involved in an altercation with him shortly before 2pm yesterday and we are keen to trace him.”

He added: “We do not believe the man we are looking for poses a risk to the wider community but would ask anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact us as a matter of urgency.”

Durham’s Chief Constable Mike Barton told media this morning that he hopes to bring the hunt for the attacker to a “swift conclusion”.

Further details of the investigation are expected to be released at a police press conference due to take place this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to Front Street shortly before 2pm on Wednesday after reports that a local man had been attacked and seriously injured.

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 2pm to attend an incident in Front Street, Kelloe to reports of a man with chest and stomach stab injuries.

“We responded with a rapid response paramedic who was first on the scene in five and a half minutes. Also in attendance was an ambulance and paramedic.

“We requested the back up from the Great North Air Ambulance, but he wasn’t airlifted to hospital.

“The doctor treated him in the back of ambulance and he travelled with patient to hospital.”

A statement released by Durham Police confirmed officers were still looking for the killer.

A spokesman said: “Police activity is continuing in the Kelloe area to trace a man believed to have been involved in the incident”.

Police at the scene

Emergency services were called to Front Street shortly before 2pm on Wednesday after reports that a local man had been attacked and seriously injured.

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 2pm to attend an incident in Front Street, Kelloe to reports of a man with chest and stomach stab injuries.

“We responded with a rapid response paramedic who was first on the scene in five and a half minutes. Also in attendance was an ambulance and paramedic.

“We requested the back up from the Great North Air Ambulance.”

A police cordon is put in place at the scene

Police officers swamped the village in the hours after the stabbing, with residents told to stay indoors.

Witnesses said armed officers, backed by the force helicopter, carried out a search of the village looking for the attacker who had fled the scene and raided at least one property in the area looking for the fugitive.

Builder Stewart Reid was laying flagstones nearby when the attack started.

He said: “I didn’t see what happened because my head was down laying flagstones, but I looked up and saw the lad lying in the road.

“Everybody rushed out of the hairdressers to help him and the ambulance arrived about 15 minutes later”.

A former schoolfriend of the victim, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s shocking what has happened. I was sitting at the window looking out when I saw someone running past.

“I went out and I saw him lying in the street”.

Hundreds of people took to social media to express their shock at the man's death.