A Police Community Support Officer has been lured into the woods with a report of a fake incident and then attacked with a knife.

The PCSO was on a routine patrol in the Palacefields area of Runcorn at around 5.10pm on Thursday when a man approached.

The man alerted the PCSO that there was an ongoing incident within a nearby wooded area which suggested a group of men appeared to be fighting.

As the PCSO walked towards the group he was attacked from behind with repeated attempts to stab him in the face.

The PCSO was able to fight off the attacker and was taken to hospital with superficial wounds to his hand’s none of the men within the wooded area assisted the PCSO and all fled the scene.

This incident is believed to be a preplanned targeted attack on a member of the policing family.

Detective Inspector Clare Coleman said: “This was a totally unprovoked attack on a police community support officer who was trying to protect our local community.

“The actions of his attacker are simply despicable and I would urge the local community to come together and help us to trace the person responsible so they can be brought to justice.

“While the officer was able to fend off his attacker, he has sustained a number of superficial wounds to his hands and understandably he has also been left extremely shaken as a result of his ordeal.

“I would urge anyone with any information in relation to this incident, no matter how small, to contact the team here at Runcorn.”

Anyone with any information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 668 of 23/11/2017. Information can also be passed anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

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