A 20-year-old from Lanner has been charged with attempted murder after a 61-year-old man was found with stab wounds at his home in the village.

At 12.22am last Thursday police were called to 28 Strawberry Fields, Lanner, after receiving a report of a stabbing incident.

William Jurgenson, 61, was found with six stab wounds to his lower abdomen and neck and was immediately taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital where his condition is described as stable but critical.

The house was cordoned off while crime scene investigators searched the property and a nearby recreation ground and police made door-to-door inquiries.

A 20-year-old man from Lanner was arrested at another local address around 90 minutes after police received the call about the incident and was later charged at Camborne Police Station with attempted murder. PC Terry Hodgeson, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "We are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident and we are monitoring the condition of the victim.

"Obviously if the victim dies this will seriously change the nature of our investigation. However he is in a stable but critical condition."

He added: "We do not perceive there to be any further threat to the victim but officers will be visiting him in hospital as he will have vital information to help with our investigation."

Mr Jurgenson's daughter, Samantha, 16, who lives with her father, was said to be in a state of shock and floods of tears when she heard the news from her mother.

Samantha said her father had been stabbed six times, with five of the wounds being in his lower abdomen and one in his neck.

She said that he had also suffered a punctured lung but it had been repaired in hospital.

Cheiron Sobey, who lives on Strawberry Fields, said: "I think it is horrible that something like this can happen just doors away from our house. There has been trouble on the estate in the past but nothing as bad as this.

"We didn't realise it had happened until the following morning when we saw all of the police there. William kept himself to himself really and didn't go out much."

Joanna Taylor, who also lives on the estate, said: "It is quite frightening. There has not been anything like this around here before. Of course there has been trouble but it was only out of hours stuff with people arguing and kids causing trouble."

Mr Jurgenson remains in hospital suffering from chest difficulties and injuries to his spleen.

If anyone has any further information about the incident they should contact the police on 08452 777 444 quoting police reference AC/06/5716.

n Ben Harris, 20, of Valley View, Lanner, appeared before Truro magistrates on Friday (December 29) and was remanded in custody to appear before the court on January 12.