A dog walker is seriously ill in hospital following an unprovoked stabbing earlier today.
Police were called to Bluebell Close, in Oadby, at about 8.45am by the ambulance service after a man was found seriously injured on land nearby.
The victim, who is believed to be aged 62, was walking his dog when he was stabbed by a man with a knife.
He was taken to hospital by air ambulance with a puncture wound to his neck. He remains in a serious condition.
Police have cordoned off the area and are currently searching for the suspect, who is believed to be another dog walker.
Detective Inspector David Swift-Rollinson said the suspect is male and was walking a Border Collie.
"That's our main line of inquiry at the moment," he said.
"If anyone has any information about the incident, or if they know of any dog walkers who walk a Border Collie in the area, they should contact us."
The suspect is described as white, in his 20s or 30s, wearing a grey T-shirt and baseball cap. He had a dog with him, believed to be a Border Collie-type breed.
Det Insp Swift-Rollinson said: "Officers are searching for him now. We believe it was a random, unprovoked event, although we don't think there is any reason for people to necessarily be concerned or worried."
Officers are conducting house to house inquiries and detectives are also contacting local veterinary surgeries in the hope that may help locate the owner of the dog. Police dogs could be seen searching the area, known locally as the gravel pit, with officers this morning.
DI Swift-Rollinson said he believed the vicim was stabbed with a knife, although a weapon has not been recovered. He said the victim's family had been told about the attack.
Residents in Blubell Close said they were shocked when they heard about the attack this morning.
One woman, who lives opposite the scene of the stabbing, said: "I woke up at about 9am and I could hear noise outside. I looked out of the window I could see the police cars."
Another resident said: "We saw the helicopters above and the police cars. The police told us that a man had been assaulted.
"It's scary that it happened here, especially as there's lots of young kids who play round here."
A police spokesman said: "Police want to reassure local residents that incidents of this nature are extremely rare and that that they believe that this is an isolated incident."
Anyone with information can call police on 101.
