North West Ambulance Service has confirmed eight people have been treated for stab injuries

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is responding to a major incident following a call at 11:48am to Hart Street in Southport following reports of multiple stabbings.

We have dispatched 13 ambulances along with specialised resources of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene.

So far, NWAS has treated eight patients with stab injuries who have been taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby hospital.

Merseyide’s police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell has urged the public not to speculate about a major incident in Southport.

She said she was ‘deeply shocked’ and ‘concerned’ in a statement on X.

Neighbours in Southport have told how they were urged to lock their doors and windows amid reports of a mass stabbing.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, one woman, who lives near Hart Street, said:

It was about 20 past 12 I think and we heard loads of sirens and then there was a helicopter circling above.

Then the messages started to go around the local WhatsApp groups, saying ‘lock your windows, lock your doors’, we were told a man was running around stabbing people.

We are all absolutely terrified, panicking and sick with worry – everyone is trying to reach anyone they know in the area. I don’t know how this can happen on a Monday lunchtime.

The woman added one of her neighbours had barricaded herself and her children in their bedroom.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said its paramedics were responding to reports of ‘multiple stabbings’ in Southport.

An NWAS statement on social media said:

We’re attending a major incident on Hart Street, Southport following reports of multiple stabbings in which we have dispatched multiple resources.

We’re assessing the situation and working with emergency partners.

Please follow our channels and @MerseyPolice for further updates.

We can now bring you footage of an air ambulance that has been called to reports of a stabbing in Southport.

The exact number of casulaties is not yet known.

As many as six children are feared to be seriously hurt after a knifeman ‘stabbed multiple people at a holiday club’.

This is a breaking news story. More updates to follow.

As we await further details on the major incident in Southport, we can show you some pictures of emergency services at the scene with a street cordoned off.

Here are the latest images:

Police tape has been put in place in Hart Street

Multiple police vehicles are now stationed in the road

An air ambulance has also been pictured nearby

A man has been detained after reports of a stabbing in Southport, in Merseyside, which has left a number of people injured.

A Merseyside Police statement said:

We can confirm that emergency services are in Southport following a major incident this morning, Monday July 29.

At around 11.50am, we were called to a property on Hart Street to reports of a stabbing.

There are a number of reported casualties and more details will be confirmed when possible.

Armed police have detained a male and seized a knife. He has been taken to a police station.

Please avoid the area while we deal with this incident. There is no wider threat to the public.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage amid reports multiple people have been injured in a stabbing near Liverpool.

Merseyside Police have confirmed emergency services are at the scene of a ‘major incident’ at a house in Southport where it is understood there are a number of casualties.

We will bring you the latest details of the incident as and when we get them.