THE stabbing of a late-night reveller in a street followed an “altercation” in a pub, it has emerged.

Detectives have arrested and bailed two men after a 21-year-old man was found with two stab wounds in Church Street, Padiham, close to the junction of Mill Street.

Police have revealed the man, who lives in Burnley, had been involved in a row at the pub just minutes before he was attacked.

Det Insp Sion Hall said: “There was a disturbance at the King’s Arms in Mill Street. The victim came out on to the street and was stabbed twice in the abdomen.

“Shortly after that, the man who we believe stabbed the 21-year-old left the scene and was himself assaulted.”

After the incident, which occurred on Saturday around 12.30am, police arrested two men, aged 18 and 33, on suspicion of assault.

They were later bailed.

The 21-year-old was taken by to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but discharged on Saturday. Police are now set to study CCTV from the nearby New Black Bull pub, also in Mill Street.

Matthew Cox, landlord of the King’s Arms, said the altercation had been “something and nothing” and it had led to the “aggressor” being thrown out of the pub.

Anyone with information should contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.