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Police have launched an attempted murder investigation after a 19-year-old woman suffered multiple stab wounds.

Officers were called to St Mary's Court, in Southend-on-Sea, on Monday, following reports of a serious assault shortly before 04:00 BST.

Essex Police said they found a woman at the scene and she was taken to hospital with "significant injuries" that were "potentially life-changing".

Three men and one woman from the Essex city, who were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, have been released on bail.

Det Insp James Holmes said: "We are working quickly to establish the circumstances around this assault, where a young woman has been left with significant injuries.

“Our early inquiries indicate that two people - a white man and a black man - left the scene shortly after the assault and we are looking for the public’s help to identify them.

"We are asking anyone who was driving in or lives in the vicinity of Victoria Avenue in Southend at around 3:30am on Monday, 29 April to contact us with any dashcam footage, CCTV footage or any information."

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