Officers will be carrying out extra patrols in Southend over the weekend in response to two unconnected and serious incidents in the town on Thursday night.

In the space of a matter of hours, one man was fatally stabbed and one man was treated in hospital for a stab wound.

Supt Jonathan Baldwin said: "Our Community Policing Team will be conducting extra patrols within the town centre and around Roots Hall Drive, where a man in his 30s tragically lost his life after being stabbed.

"Having two incidents of this nature take place within hours of each other in the town is a rare occurrence.

"We do not think these are linked and are treating both as targeted and isolated attacks. We do not believe there is any further risk to members of the public.

"Sadly these are the very real consequences of knife crime and it's why we work tirelessly with our local partners to deter anyone from carrying a knife through campaigns such as Operation Sceptre and the presence of knife bins outside local police stations, and various other locations, across the county.

"We urge anyone thinking about carrying a knife to reconsider and ask the community to help spread our messages about the devastating and life-changing impact of knife crime.”

For more information about knife crime, it's effects and what our officers are doing to tackle it, please visit www.essex.police.uk/knife-crime/

Anyone with information about either of the incidents in Southend is urged to contact us on 101.

Information can also be given completely anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/.