Essex Police has launched investigations into "two serious incidents" in south Essex after a stabbing and a serious attack just hours apart.

Officers say they are looking into two serious incidents which took place within hours of each other in Thurrock.

Both investigations are in their early stages, but officers are not treating them as linked.

In the first incident, a man suffered two stab wounds after an incident shortly before 4pm, in London Road, Stanford-le-Hope.

The man in his 20s was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition with wounds to his torso area.

Essex Police were alerted to the incident by NHS colleagues who attended to the injured man.

At this stage, no arrests have been made.

In the second incident, shortly before 8.30pm, three people were arrested after Essex Police were called to an incident in Bellmaine Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope.

During that incident, a man had been seriously assaulted and sustained a head injury which required immediate hospital treatment.

He has now been discharged from hospital.

A 25-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man, both from Stanford-le-Hope, and a 27-year-old man from Brentwood were arrested on suspicion of GBH.

They remain in custody for questioning.

Chief Inspector Tony Atkin, Thurrock district commander, said: "Although these incidents are not being treated as linked in any way, two serious assaults taking place in our district will of course cause concern among our communities.

"As a result of the work already carried out by our criminal investigation department officers, we now believe each incident to be isolated, with no wider threat being posed to the Thurrock community.

"We will continue to progress these investigations throughout the coming days and officers from our community policing team will be in across the district to provide public reassurance.

"Anyone with information or concerns to raise can speak to those officers; they are there to help you.

"Following any serious incident, we look at the circumstances around it to establish whether there is a wider impact or wider repercussions in order to prevent any further offences from taking place.

"At this time, there is no information to suggest this will be the case."

Essex Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with information to also come forward.

A spokesman added: "Anyone with information on either incident should contact us as soon as possible.

"Please cite incident 866 of 1 July with information on the incident in London Road and incident 1250 with information on the Bellmaine Avenue incident."