POLICE are searching for two men following the stabbing of a 48-year-old man in the middle of a street in Headington on Thursday evening.

Detectives released the descriptions of two suspects last night and are appealing for eyewitnesses to come forward with information about the incident in Margaret Road at the junction of St Anne's Road.

The force said they did not believe the attack was random, adding the wider public were in no danger.

They said the victim was in a stable condition as of yesterday and his injuries, including a stab wound to his stomach, were not life-threatening.

Investigating officer Det Insp Jim Holmes said the force had increased patrols in the neighbourhood.

The first man is described as a white, in his late teens to early twenties, 5ft 8ins, with short brown/blonde hair. He is of skinny build and was wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans. 

The second man is described as a mixed race, in his late teens to early twenties with closely cropped shaved hair. 

Margaret Road was closed to traffic and the public on Thursday afternoon as police launched a manhunt after being called at 3.47pm.

The police helicopter was deployed to search the surrounding area, but no arrests have been made so far.

A source told the Oxford Mail the victim was "doing well" and was "going to be OK".

Eye witnesses in the road near Windmill Primary School told how they heard the victim "screaming" and saw "blood everywhere".

One said: "Normally you just get people coming here and picking up their kids from school. I was a bit surprised, I've never seen anything like that before."

Det Insp Holmes, from Cowley Police Station, said: "We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this assault to come forward. 

"We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen two men matching the description that may have been waiting around in Margaret Road and the surrounding roads before 3.47pm. 

"We would also ask anyone who saw the men described running away from Margaret Street after this incident to call. We would ask anyone with information about this incident to call us on 101 quoting URN 1114 15/9."

Oxfordshire County Councillor for Headington Roz Smith said two detectives attended the scene and photographs were being taken.

She added: "It's very unusual for something like this to happen in this part of Oxford. It's right near the school.

"There is shopping which has spilled out onto the road and the road is completely closed to traffic and pedestrians."