A man was taken to hospital after being stabbed in the arm and back in a seafront toilet block.

The 19-year-old victim was attacked in the toilets in Lucy Road, Southend and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers have released a description of the suspect and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We received reports at around 8.10pm on Tuesday 18 August, that a man had been stabbed in toilets in Lucy Road, Southend.

The victim, a 19-year-old man, has been taking to hospital with a stab wound to one of his arms and to his back. The suspect has been described as being black, in his early to mid-20s, with short curly hair in an Afro style.

"He was wearing a black or grey North Face tracksuit with a white stripe along the front. He ran through Seaway car park towards the seafront.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Southend CID on 101 quoting crime reference 42/129070/20 or you can report information online by visiting www.essex.police.uk.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.