POLICE swooped on a street on Portland after a woman was allegedly attacked by a knife-wielding man.

Emergency services rushed to Woolcombe Road shortly after 1pm yesterday after reports that a woman had been assaulted by a 22-year-old man, who had allegedly been brandishing a knife.

A man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

James Penketh, 22, of no fixed abode, has now been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating.

He is due to appear at Bournemouth Magistrates Court later today.

Two police cars, one ambulance and one rapid response vehicle attended the incident in the Easton area.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We received a call at 1pm on Tuesday to reports of an alleged assault on Woolcombe Road, Portland.

“It is reported that a man allegedly attacked a woman and brandished a knife during the assault.

“The victim sustained facial injuries during the incident and the alleged offender and the woman are known to each other.

The spokesman added: “A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm.”

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: “There was one female casualty who suffered an injury to her face.

“She was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to Dorset County Hospital by land ambulance for further treatment. Her injuries are not thought to be serious.”

Cllr Sandra Reynolds, town councillor for Tophill East said: “This sounds like a shocking incident and I wish the woman a speedy recovery.”