A MAN was rushed to hospital after he was stabbed following the Dorchester Cider Festival.

Emergency services swooped on the Borough Gardens at around 11pm on Saturday night after a man, working as a security doorman at the event, was allegedly stabbed in the face by a late-night reveller.

He was taken to Dorset County Hospital by paramedics after a suffering an injury to his face.

It is understood his injuries are not life-threatening.

A 48-year-old man from Dorchester has now been charged in relation to the incident with actual bodily harm and possession of a knife or blade in connection to the incident.

Dorset Police have now launched a witness appeal following the altercation and are hoping that some of the people who attended the cider festival may have seen the altercation and will contact them.

The inaugural Dorchester Cider Festival was attended by hundreds of people throughout the day and was deemed a success by organisers, with thousands of pounds raised for charity throughout the day.

Ralph Wheeler, chairman of Dorchester Round Table which organised the event, said the incident was a disappointment as the festival had been a success and he urged people to contact Dorset Police with information.

Mr Wheeler said: “The day itself was a fantastic event, and I wasn’t there to witness the incident at the end.

“Nobody wants this type of incident to happen, it was certainly out of character for the rest of the day, and we did try our best to try and mitigate this sort of incident from happening.

“I think it is important that if people did witness the incident that they assist police with the case and contact them.”

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: “We were called to Borough Gardens on Cornwall Road at 10.57pm to reports of a man with a stabbing injury.

“On arrival, there was one male casualty and he was taken by land ambulance to Dorset County Hospital.

“It is understood that the injuries were not life threatening.”

Detective Inspector Kevin Lansdale, of Western CID at Dorset Police, said: “I am appealing for witnesses, who were at the event, to contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 15:443."

Dan Wilson, owner of Events Security Southern Limited for whom the victim works said the festival was a 'really good family event' and he hopes the alleged incident will not mar its reputation.