A MAJOR police inquiry was launched after a man was found injured in a Lockwood street.

But after several hours of investigation detectives ruled out that his injuries were caused by an attack.

They have not said exactly how the man came to suffer a serious neck injury. The 41-year-old man was found by council workers collapsed in Swan Lane, Lockwood, at around 11.15am yesterday.

He was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where he is now recovering.

His discovery initially sparked a large police presence in the area and residents feared the man had been stabbed.

A block of flats and a number of businesses were sealed off and the police helicopter and police dog unit were drafted in to assist the search.

Det Sgt Nigel Gittins said: “A man was found injured in the street by Kirklees Council workers.

“He is being treated in hospital with non-serious injuries.

“We have conducted enquires but we are now satisfied he has not been attacked and there is nothing suspicious surrounding the incident.”

He described the injured man, who lives in the area, as having ‘issues’.

Shopkeepers did reveal a man was stabbed in the street in the early hours of September 6.

Charles Dixon, who runs Dixons Milk Ices, said: “About six weeks ago someone was stabbed outside the shop in the early hours of the morning.

“I was on holiday but staff tried to open up in the morning and were told by police they couldn’t.

“We do need better security round here. It does affect businesses both immediately after if they can’t open up and if people don’t feel safe going there.

“I would support the council installing CCTV. It’s a lonely place after 10pm up here.

“We have had internal shutters for a while now but it does make people think we are closed.”

Police confirmed in that incident a 38-year-old man was attacked following a dispute with two men.

The victim was assaulted, receiving what officers described as non-life threatening injuries.

Two men aged 28 and 48 are currently on bail pending further inquires.

Newsagent Dinesh Joshi, who has had his shop attacked before, said he was angry with the latest incident and spoke at a time he was unable to get through the police cordon to his shop.

“I had just been to the Cash and Carry and now I have stock that I can’t get into the shop,” he said.

“Who is going to pay staff wages if we can’t open?

“It is not our fault these things keep happening but we are the ones who have to foot the bill.

“Good luck to the injured man but enough is enough.”

Anyone with information to the September 6 incident should contact Huddersfield 101.

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