MANHUNT DRAMA Village on ‘lockdown’ as armed police hunt knifeman after man is brutally stabbed to death

A VILLAGE is in “lockdown” and a man has died after what police described as a “serious assault”.

Heavily-armed officers were seen swarming the town of Kelloe after the assault, as the attacker is thought to be still on the loose.

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Police at the scene in Kelloe, County Durham after a man was stabbed in the former pit village - he has since died

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The village is in "lockdown" as police have told people to stay inside

Officers were called to the town in County Durham following the attack earlier this afternoon, and people living in the area say they have been told to stay inside.

A Durham Police spokesman said a man has been taken to the University Hospital of North Durham - he has since died.

He is thought to be a father and was described by neighbours as a "lovely, harmless man".

An air ambulance was called after the man, thought to be in his 20s, was stabbed in the chest and stomach.

Police at the cordon have not confirmed if they have found the person believed to be responsible for the stabbing, the Chronicle reports.

A forensic team is now on the scene with sniffer dogs focusing on a car, as the road is still closed off.

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The knifeman remains on the loose after attacking a man said to be in his 20s

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Police tweeted to say they were "dealing with a report of a serious assault in Front Street, Kelloe"

Pictures from the scene showed a street had been cordoned off in the former pit village.

The cordon is expected to be in place until about 10pm.

A Durham Constabulary statement released this evening said: "A man has died after he was assaulted in Kelloe, County Durham, this afternoon.

"Police attended Front Street, Kelloe, shortly after 2pm, following a report that the victim, believed to be a local man in his early 30s, had been stabbed.

He was taken to the James Cook Memorial Hospital in Middlesbrough where he died a short time later.

"Police activity is continuing in the Kelloe area to trace a man believed to have been involved in the incident.

"Anyone with information which could help police is urged to contact Durham Constabulary on 101."

A North East Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called at 2pm for a male in his 20s to Front Street, in Kelloe, with significant chest and stomach stab wounds.

"We sent a rapid response paramedic, alongside a hazardous area response team and the Great North Air Ambulance.

"The doctor with Great North Air Ambulance treated the patient and he was taken to University Hospital of North Durham in an ambulance."