POLICE cordoned off a busy road following reports a man had been stabbed.

According to eyewitnesses the victim had attempted to rob two teenagers in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, near to Albert Park, when he himself was attacked by onlookers.

The man, thought to be in his 30s, was beaten – with one report suggesting he was also stabbed – before he was able to flee.

Police secured the scene, while an ambulance was also present following the incident shortly before 5pm on Thursday.

Officers were later seen entering a nearby property where a man with bandages around his stomach was seen being taken to an ambulance.

The road was later re-opened.

A North East Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We were called at 4.48pm to reports of an incident in the Linthorpe Road area of Middlesbrough.

“We despatched a double crewed ambulance and have taken one person to James Cook University Hospital.”