A FOURTH arrest has been made in relation to a stabbing in the city centre.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, the police have confirmed today.

As reported yesterday, officers swooped on a Worcester address on Tuesday afternoon and arrested a 39-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.

While a woman, aged 44, and a man, aged 54, both from the city, were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The incident took place on Friday evening around 5.55pm in Nash’s Passage, an alley which connects New Street with City Walls Road.

Having emerged bleeding heavily from the alleyway, the victim, in his 30s, made his way down to Charles Street where he collapsed, eyewitnesses have said.

Detective Sergeant Maxine Rawlins said she was "pleased to say" the four arrests had been made just days after the assault.

"Our investigation is on-going and proceeding well, however I would ask anyone with any information to please get in touch."

The 39-year-old man has been released on bail until October 20, while the 45-year-old man has been released until October 18. While the other two arrested have been "released under investigation".

The condition of the victim, named locally as Paul Gill, "remains serious" a spokesman for West Mercia Police told us on Wednesday, and he is in hospital.

A witness told us on Friday: "The lad ran out of the alleyway, then took his top off and it was clear he’d been stabbed about five times.

"He was stood there a long time before anyone realised what had happened. When he took his shirt off there was loads of blood, it went all over the pavement."

Call 101 and quote incident number 630s of September 20.