THREE people were taken to hospital with knife and stabbing injuries and police have closed a road following two incidents in Harrogate last night. 

A fourth person had a substance sprayed into his eyes during the violence just before midnight. 

Detectives have appealed for witnesses to come forward. 

Unity Grove, off Skipton Road, in Harrogate is closed while police carry out forensic work and a man and a woman in their 40s are under arrest.

Police first became aware of the violence when they went to Skipton Road close to Bilton Working Men's Club, at 11.20pm, where they found a man with knife wounds and a second man who had had something sprayed into his eyes.  

Ten minutes later they were called to Unity Grove where they found a third man, who had been stabbed, and a fourth man with a cut hand and other injuries.

All the men except the one with reddened eyes were taken to hospital. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

Officers want to hear from anyone who was in the area between Skipton Road,  King's Road and Bilton Drive at the time or has any other information that could assist the investigation to contact them.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for Harrogate Serious Crime Team, or email ForceControlRoom@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. They should quote reference 12170188711 when passing on information.

Police believe that the injured people were targeted and say that the local community is not at risk of further attacks.