A HUNT has been launched for a Samurai sword after a man was left fighting for life following an incident in Eastleigh.

Police say they are looking for a weapon resembling a Samurai sword and three people have been arrested following the incident, which happened in Eastleigh on Friday evening.

Emergency services were called to Heinz Burt Close at around 10.15pm.

Residents said they heard a woman screaming before an ambulance arrived.

Police said a 23-year-old man, from Winchester, was found inside a building with a serious head injury.

The man was taken to Southampton General Hospital, where his condition was described as life-threatening.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “We heard people screaming. I was worried. The ambulance was here within minutes. Then another ambulance turned up.”

A 17-year-old boy and a 17-year-old woman, both from Eastleigh, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 48-year-old man, from Bursledon, was arrested on suspicion of GBH.

The 17-year-old boy remains in custody, while no further action is being taken against the 17-year-old girl in connection with attempted murder. She has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and has been released under investigation.

The 48-year-old man faces no further action in connection with causing GBH, but was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class B drug and has been released under investigation.

Now police are asking people living in the area to look in their bins and gardens for a discarded weapon.

Eastleigh councillor Paul Bicknell said the incident was “shocking” and urged the community to contact police if they saw anything suspicious.

He said: “This sort of incidents are extremely rare in Eastleigh. The latest statistics showed an overall reduction in crime.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting reference number 44180474032.