A MAN was stabbed several times after a fight broke out in the street during the early hours of Sunday.

The attack happened at about 2.30am when a white estate car, containing three men, pulled up outside the Crown House JobCentre, in Middlesbrough.

The men, who were armed with knives, began fighting with two other men and two women.

As a result, one of the attack victims received multiple stab wounds and was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital and later released.

The three attackers are all white. One is aged 20 to 25, 6ft tall, of medium build, with short, dark brown hair. He was wearing a blue shirt.

The second man is 20 to 23, 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in tall, and of slim build. He has short brown hair and was wearing a cream pullover. Their accomplice is 20 to 22 years old, 5ft 10in to 6ft tall, of slim build, and with short brown hair.

A police spokesman said: "This happened in a busy part of the town centre, when many people may have been about. It appears to have been an unprovoked attack."

Witnesses are asked to ring DC Heather Harding on (01642) 303126.