RESIDENTS in Bradford on Avon have been shocked by a knife fight which left three people seriously injured.

Violence erupted in Southville Road at about 2am on Sunday when seven men were involved in a fight near Aldhelm Court sheltered home.

Neighbours were woken by the noise and looked out to see bodies in the road. Three wounded men were taken to the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

A 48-year-old Frome man needed emergency surgery after being stabbed in the abdomen. His condition is serious but not life threatening.

Six police cars, a helicopter, tracer dogs and two ambulances were called to the scene and the road was cordoned off until early on Sunday afternoon.

During the incident, one of the sheltered home's walls was smashed down when a car was rammed against it.

Resident Albert Ovens, 72, heard a loud bang and screaming. He said: "I wondered what on Earth was going on but I couldn't see anything. Police were here all night."

One resident, who did not wish to be named, was woken by the noise and has been left shaken.

She said: "It is normally a quiet estate. When I looked outside there was a guy lying in the road and I thought there was another guy around the corner.

"The police were about until about 2.10pm on Sunday. It is not a very pleasant thing to have happened. I worry about the reprisals."

Another resident, who phoned the police, was relieved to hear nobody had been killed describing the night as like something out of Starsky and Hutch.

He said: "Everything was covered by a tent during the day. We heard a car drive off at speed and a lot of shouting.

"We had to get permission from the police to drive our cars out.

"A lot of rumours are flying around the estate. It is all quite disturbing."

Two men, aged 36 and 37, of Bradford on Avon, were arrested in connection with the stabbing but have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Officers are appealing for witnesses who might know the whereabouts of a dark Range Rover, possibly green or blue, which was seen in the area.

Police are also keen to speak to brothers Steven and Daniel Olden, of Frome.