TWO people have been stabbed prompting a major police investigation in Christchurch.

A man suffered serious injuries and a woman was also hurt during the same incident.

Both have been arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Bournemouth Echo:

Police were called at 3.23pm on Sunday when the ambulance service reported that a man and a woman had been found with injuries in Bargates.

Dorset Police said the two people, both aged in their 40s, are known to each other and it is not believed anyone else was involved in the altercation. The woman's injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.

Police called to Goose & Timber in Christchurch

The incident is believed to have taken place at a nearby address and there is police activity at the boarded-up Goose & Timber pub.

The air ambulance landed on playing fields opposite the pub, which is next to the former Christchurch police station and near the Fountain roundabout.

A land ambulance and four police cars were parked at the back of the building and a uniformed officer was standing at the rear gate of the pub.

Uniformed and plain clothes officers were at the scene.

Bournemouth Echo:

Some were seen to leave the building with evidence bags and others, wearing protective gloves, were seen searching the surrounding area.

Officers looked in bushes and searched around a recycling station.

Onlookers had gathered at the playing fields to see the air ambulance, which left the scene at around 4.45pm.

The pub, which has operated under a number of different names, has been boarded up for several years. It last operated under the name of Dukes.

Bournemouth Echo:

There have been a number of recent incidents in boarded-up buildings in the area in recent months.

The site next door to the pub - the former police station and magistrates' court - has been used by squatters.

A series of fires inside the building in May were believed to have been started deliberately.

Anyone with information about the latest incident can contact police on 101, quoting incident number 27:228.