Man stabbed as argument on Musselburgh street ends in violence

The man was found with "puncture wounds" at 9.45pm on Saturday night in Fisher's Wynd, just metres from the town's popular beach and harbour area.

The victim was taken to hospital but his injuries were not said to be life-threatening.

Police are treating the stabbing as attempted murder.

Scenes of crime officers arrived yesterday afternoon to search the Fisher's Wynd and Beach Lane areas.

The victim was with a group of friends when an argument broke out between another man and woman - who were not part of his group - in the street

But many residents living in flats overlooking the street said they did not see or hear anything and were unaware of the events which had taken place on their doorstep until the police arrived.

However, one resident said: "When my brother came back at about 10.20pm he saw the ambulance taking someone away.

"When he walked up the street he saw loads of blood on the pavement and told the police about it. I don't think they had seen it yet.

"When we found out what had happened we had a look in the garden to see if there had been anything thrown in there because quite a lot of things get thrown in like broken bottles and that kind of thing.

"It's frightening to think this kind of thing can happen on your doorstep. I won't be letting my kids out to play."

Staff in Restaurant 102, which overlooks the crime scene, gave statements to the police following the incident and are understood to have kept the eatery open to serve hot drinks to officers who were at the scene overnight.

The police are keen to speak to anyone in the area at the time who may have seen what happened. In particular, they are keen to trace a woman in her mid 20s who was in the Fisher's Wynd area when the stabbing took place.

She is described as being white, 5ft 9in tall with straight black shoulder-length hair.

She was wearing a long black coat with a white top underneath and wore heavy black eyeliner.

A police spokesperson said: "We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Fisher's Wynd, North High Street or New Street at about 9.45pm (on Saturday night] to come forward if they witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious.

"Similarly, we would like to trace the woman we know was in the area at the time and would ask her, or anyone who recognises the description, to come forward."