A SERIOUS assault involving a sharp metal object has been condemned.

A police investigation has been launched after a serious assault which involved a sharp implement occurred in Barrow on Monday night.

Police are investigating the incident which is reported to have occurred in the area of Newland Terrace, Greengate Street, Barrow between 9.30pm and 9.40pm on Monday night. Emergency services were called to the scene and a 38-year-old man was located by North West Ambulance Service with head injuries.

The injuries have been described by police as not life threatening. Three men wearing dark clothing are reported to have fled the scene a short time prior to the incident being reported. It is believed a sharp metal object was used in the assault and was recovered by police at the scene. Mayor of Barrow, Kevin Hamilton, condemned the incident.

He said: "No one has a right to carry around a sharp object, whether that be a knife, with them.

"It's just asking for trouble.

"It's absolutely ridiculous. There could have been kids around at that time or anything. "It's a really dangerous thing to do. Cllr Hamilton is calling for any witnesses of the incident to come forward.

He said: "Anyone who saw anything should tell the police.

"My thoughts go out to the person who was injured."

A spokeswoman for North West Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics were called out at 9.33pm on Monday night to reports of a police incident.

She said: "We got a call at 9.33pm to attend a police incident and one ambulance was dispatched to the street.

"No one was taken to the hospital via ambulance."

Cumbria Police confirmed that enquiries are ongoing and detectives are speaking with residents in the area. Anyone with any information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police on 101 or via Crimestoppers quoting log 185 of November 23.