A 26-YEAR-OLD has been left with stab wounds in the third violent incident to affect a Ramsey housing estate.

Police were called to reports of an assault at Canberra Court at 2.50am on Saturday, May 21. The victim was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon with serious but not life-threatening injuries, and was later discharged.

A 30-year-old man was arrested for the assault and has been bailed to return to Huntingdon police station on July 5.

The attack follows a stabbing of a 24-year-old in February last year, and the arrest of a man for firearms possession in August.

Residents say the latest incident has left them shaken and fearing for the welfare of their children. They claim drug use and car crime are also problems on the estate, with reports of needles being found in children’s play areas.

One 61-year-old resident, who wished to remain anonymous, heard the latest attack.

“We heard people running all up and down the street, screaming and shouting. At 1.30am I went to bed, but because of the noise I got up again.

“At 6am I left the house to go to the paper shop. The police had cordoned off half the place, and there was blood everywhere.”

The resident, who has lived on the estate for two-and-a-half years, said his two grandchildren, aged 14 and 11, were afraid to play outside after they were assaulted in a play area last year.

He added: “The majority of us want to move. Fourteen people have moved in two-and-a-half years – what does that tell you about Canberra Court?

“Nobody from Ramsey lives in Canberra Court. They are all people who do not know what they were getting themselves into.

“I do not want my grandchildren to see blood. I do not want them to be brought up in this situation. But it seems we are beating our heads against a brick wall.

“I do not know what is going to happen next. What kind of life is this?”

Cambridgeshire police has increased patrols in the area and is holding an engagement session at Canberra Court on Saturday from 10am.

Station sergeant Dave Savill of Ramsey police said: “We want people to trust us a little bit more. The main thing is to ring and tell us. We hear things third-hand through local councillors. If we do not know about it, there is not an awful lot we can do.”

Huntingdonshire district councillor for Ramsey. Peter Reeve, said: “People are starting to feel more comfortable about talking to the police and talking to local councillors, through the neighbourhood management teams. They are suddenly starting to open up and build a dialogue.

“People have written that area off. ‘It is outsiders that live there, they are not part of our community’. But we have really tried to address that and get people involved.”

Social landlord Muir Housing, which manages the estate, said it was conducting an investigation into the incident.

Sam Scott, director of housing services, said: “Subject to the outcome of this investigation and evidence gathered, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action against anyone proven to have breached the terms of their tenancy agreement or to have caused anti-social behaviour at Canberra Court.”

INFORMATION: Anyone with information about the incident on Saturday, May 21 should call Dc Martin Brocklehurst on 0345 456 4564 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.