Police shut main road near Rochdale town centre after reports of stabbing - live updates

A number of roads have been cordoned off in Rochdale tonight amid reports of a stabbing incident. The full details as yet are unclear, with Greater Manchester Police understood to be investigating.

Closures were in place tonight - Thursday - around busy Whitworth Road, at a stretch near to the town centre and Rochdale Infirmary.

An area between Princess Street and St Mary's Gate, around Globe Taxis, is within the cordon, with reports of a 'serious incident'. Queues are said to be backing onto John Street, Howard Street, Falinge Road, Sheriff Street and Spotland Road.

The Manchester Evening News has approached Greater Manchester Police for further comment.

Images from the scene show the extent of the cordon, with police officers standing guard at the scene.

We'll be bringing you the very latest on this breaking news story below.

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The man added that he saw no ambulances at the scene.

"There were no ambulances," he added.

"We heard no commotion or anything like that.

"There has been somethingf left in the middle of the road that police are looking at within the cordon."

The Manchester Evening News understands it is a bunch of flowers the victim was carrying at the time.

We have contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.

A man working near the scene has told how 'it went crazy' with police, but says he doesn't know details of what has happened.

"It just went crazy around here," he said.

"The police have closed the road off. We heard no noise, no screaming, nothing like that.

"The police have just said that there is an incident and it's a crime scene."