POLICE last night warned the public not to approach a man they are hunting in connection with an horrific stabbing.

Jeffrey Brown, 31, was left fighting for his life after he was knifed in the back four times during the daylight attack in one of Darlington's busiest roads.

Mr Brown, originally from Spennymoor, was yesterday in a "poorly condition" in the intensive care unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital after undergoing emergency surgery to remove a kidney.

Police investigating the attack - which happened in Grange Road at about 4pm on Sunday - took the unusual step of identifying a man they want to question in connection with the stabbing.

Wayne Armstrong, 29, also originally from the Spennymoor area, was living in one of four flats in a Victorian house on Grange Road, where Mr Brown was staying.

Last night, Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson, who is leading the investigation, warned members of the public not to approach Mr Armstrong and to contact police immediately if he was seen.

It is believed that Mr Armstrong and Mr Brown were involved in an argument inside the property, which spilled out on to the pavement.

A motorist, who does not wish to be named, saw Mr Brown desperately trying to defend himself.

"Two of them were arguing and I could see the victim was trying to defend himself, he had his hands up and was trying to push the assailant away.

"The victim then collapsed, he slumped to the ground. I could see he had stab wounds on his back, they looked very deep and there was a lot of blood everywhere.

"When I saw the state of his back I realised how serious it was and just tried to stem the blood flow. The whole thing was very upsetting.

"It was a totally cowardly attack, whatever it was about, to stab someone in the back is just cowardly. It was an horrific stabbing."

It is understood that Mr Armstrong left the scene in a white Citroen Berlingo, which has since been recovered by police and is undergoing forensic examination.

Mr Armstrong is described as 6ft, slim, clean shaven, with blue eyes and close-cropped blonde, hair.

Det Supt Stephenson has urged Mr Armstrong to get in touch so he can talk to him.

"We have so far been unable to speak to the victim and the motive for the attack is at present unclear," he added.

"There were people in the area at the time both on foot and passing in vehicles. We need to speak to them as quickly as possible."

Police would also like to speak to a man driving a red car which stopped briefly in the area of the attack, opposite the Majestic Wine Warehouse.

The man, thought to be about 30-years-old, had very dark hair and a goatee beard.

When he stopped he shouted a challenge at the victim and the assailant, urging them to stop what they were doing, before driving off in the direction of the Reg Vardy roundabout.

A police spokesman said: "He may have had a clear sight of what was happening and we need to speak to him as a matter of urgency."

Police sealed off Grange Road from Harewood Terrace to Blackwell Lane for a number of hours on Sunday to allow forensic officers to carry out a search of the area.

Anyone with information about the stabbing or Mr Armstrong's whereabouts can contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111