POLICE have arrested eight people following a disturbance where a man and woman were injured in Darwen.

Officers were called at around 2.20am  today to Lisbon Drive to reports of a fight involving men carrying machetes.

They found a 27-year-old woman inside a property with a foot injury and she was taken to hospital.

Police were called again a few minutes later to Duckworth Street, to reports that a vehicle had been damaged.

They were also called to Sandon Street at 2.45am to reports of an injured man needing assistance. Police attended and found a 20-year-old man with stab wounds to the leg, abdomen, shoulder and head. He was also taken to hospital. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Seven men and one woman were arrested at the scene.

A man, 20, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of wounding and taken to hospital to be treated for stab wounds.

A 21-year-old man from Darwen and a man aged 50 and a woman aged 19 from Wigan were arrested on suspicion of wounding and affray.

Two men, aged 20 and 23 from London, were arrested on suspicion of affray. A man, aged 19 from Reading and a 29-year-old man from Darwen were also arrested on suspicion of affray.

The incidents, which police believe to be linked, are being treated as targeted attacks and there is not believed to be a wider threat to the public.

DCI Derry Crorken of Lancashire Police said: “These are serious offences and two people were badly injured. We know people in the area will have heard these incidents and we would urge anyone who has any information to come forward to assist us with our investigation."

Detective are in the early stages of their enquiries and are keen to trace any witnesses to any of the incidents.

Members of the public are being asked to call 101 quoting incident reference 0081 of March 11th. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.