Police are ramping up their manhunt after a shocking hospital stabbing. 

Officers are continuing to investigate the serious assault and robbery that "sent shockwaves" through the community on Monday. 

A police spokesman said: "Police received a report at around 6.40am on Monday 15 July after a woman had been seriously assaulted and robbed in the car park of Basildon Hospital.

"The victim sustained a stab wound to the stomach and remains in hospital.

"Thankfully, her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

"No arrests have been made and a number of targeted lines of enquiry are ongoing.

"These enquiries, which include extensive review of CCTV in the area, will continue to be progressed throughout today and the coming days."

Inspector Steve Parry from Basildon’s local policing team  said “We are working quickly to investigate this serious assault and continue to provide support to the victim, who remains in hospital.

“We are working closely with the hospital following understandable concerns from members of staff and patients and we will continue to update them as the investigation progresses.

“We are asking anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the area on Monday morning to contact us. The victim managed to sound the horn of her car following the assault, which may trigger people’s memory around what they saw in the area round that time.

“No piece of information is too small, so I am urging anyone who can help to contact us quoting incident 272 of 15 July.”