Stabbing by balaclava-clad duo outside Morrisons Daily on Hightown Road in Ringwood leaves man badly hurt

POLICE are hunting a balaclava-clad duo who stabbed a man in a car outside a Ringwood convenience store, leaving him badly hurt.

The attack took place as the victim, who is in his 20s, waited for another person, who was inside Morrisons Daily on Hightown Road just after 7pm on Saturday.

Witnesses and those with useful CCTV dash cam footage are being sought by officers.

A Hampshire force spokesperson said: “A man in his 20s was sat inside a parked car with the window down, waiting for the driver of the car who had just gone into the shop, when two males wearing balaclavas approached him and stabbed him in the shoulder.

“He was taken to hospital for treatment to serious but not life-changing or life-threatening injuries.”

The assailants had fled the scene in a silver Mercedes C200 sport, before the injured man went into the store seeking help.

Residents took to social media to express their shock and dismay at the incident.

One person wrote: “I'm at a loss as to how we can stop this dreadful epidemic of violence!

“In a rather quiet market town – what hope do we have, for us, for our children and for our children's children? It's just so scary to go out nowadays.”

The shop was temporarily closed as the investigation was launched.

Morrisons declined to comment to the A&T about the incident, but confirmed it was assisting police with their enquiries.

Anyone with information should contact officers online at hampshire.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting reference 44240331172.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously at crimestoppers-uk.org.uk or on 0800 555 111.