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A church in Burton has been cordoned off by police after a 16-year-old girl was stabbed.

Police say the teenager was seriously assaulted in the grounds of All Saints Church in Branston Road, Burton, at around 7pm last night.

Follow our updates below.

Man, 19, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection to the incident.

The man, of no fixed address, was arrested at around 2pm and remains in police custody pending further investigations.

He has not yet been charged.

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Arrest made

We believe there has been an arrest made in connection to the incident, updates to follow shortly.

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The girl's possible route to hospital

The walking route from All Saints Church to Queen's Hospital
The walking route from All Saints Church to Queen's Hospital (Image: Google)

Here is the potential route the 16-year-old girl may have taken as she trekked more than two miles from All Saints Church to Queen’s Hospital after suffering stab wounds to her neck.

Google predicts that the journey will have taken more than 50 minutes on foot.

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16-year-old girl WALKED herself to hospital

It has been confirmed by a Staffordshire police spokesman that the 16-year-old girl WALKED herself more than two miles to Queen’s Hospital from All Saint’s Church despite several stab wounds.

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What we know so far

At 7pm last night a 16-year-old girl was seriously assaulted outside All Saints Church in Burton.

She was left with several stab wounds in her neck and rushed to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital.

It is believed East Midlands Ambulance Service was responsible for immediate assistance.

The girl’s injuries are believed to be “significant but not life-threatening” - further updates on her condition have not been released.

Forensic investigations in the grounds of the Branston Road church are what led to the closure of its grounds for nearly five hours, from 7am until 10.45am.

It was initially dubbed a “serious incident” with investigations ongoing.

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Teenage girl stabbed in the neck in Burton assault

Police have revealed a 16-year-old girl was seriously assaulted in the grounds of All Saints Church in Branston Road, Burton, at around 7pm last night.

Staffordshire Police are appealing for witnesses after the girl was treated for stab wounds to her neck, which have been described as “significant but not life threatening”. She was taking to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital.

The area around the church was sealed off to allow forensic examinations to take place and it was finished at 10.45am today.
Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote incident number 757 of January 22.

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Footpath cordoned off

A walkway next to the church has been cordoned off
A walkway next to the church has been cordoned off

West Midlands Ambulance Service were not called to the incident, it is believed East Midlands Ambulance Service responded to the call. It comes as the footpath next to the church is also cordoned off. This leads to All Saints Croft

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Police set to release further information

Staffordshire Police are poised to release further information about the serious incident, which is believed to have been reported in nearby Broadway Street.

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Photographs of the scene

Forensics are taking photos
Forensics are taking photos

Forensics have been spotted taking photographs of the scene, as we wait for Staffordshire Police to release further information about the ‘serious incident’.

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Passersby speaks

Police cordon off All Saints Church
Police cordon off All Saints Church

A passerby who lives near the church said: “I can’t remember anything like this having happened before. All I saw was this morning there was a female police officer walking around the ground and she picked something up off the ground.”

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Neighbours say they are shocked

A resident who lives near the church and who didn’t want to be named, said: “It’s shocking.

“I went to work at 7.30am, came back at 9.30am and it was all cordoned off, I’ve got no idea what happened. I’ve seen police walking up and down the grounds searching and looking in bins.”

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Here are more photos of the scene

More photos of the scene have been taken as police continue the cordon

It is not yet clear what has happened
It is not yet clear what has happened
Incident near All Saints Church
Incident near All Saints Church
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Search begins in bins and bushes

Our reporter on the scene says police are now inspecting the church grounds at the rear, and are looking inside bins and bushes as they continue their investigations.

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Forensics inspecting a site next to the church

Forensics can be seen on the site
Forensics can be seen on the site

As police cordon off All Saints Church, forensics are now inspecting the scene.

The church has been cordoned off since 7am this morning

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Forensics inspecting the rear of the church

Police are on the scene
Police are on the scene

Our reporter on the scene reveals forensics are now inspecting the site to the rear of the church

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Forensics are now on the scene

Forensics are now on the scene
Forensics are now on the scene

Forensics are now on the scene at All Saints Church.

Further information on the serious incident has not yet been revealed

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Forensics on the way

Police are on the scene
Police are on the scene

A church in Branston has been cordoned off by police due to a ‘serious incident’, it has been confirmed.

A large police presence is at the scene outside All Saints Church, in Branston Road, as an investigation is launched.

A spokesman at the scene for Staffordshire Police, said: “There has been a serious incident and we have set up a cordon to preserve any evidence that there may be.

“Enquiries are ongoing and the forensic team is on its way to conduct further investigations. We have been on the scene since 7am and the staff at the church have been really cooperative and helpful.”

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