A 28-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article in a public place following an incident in Kendal on Wednesday afternoon (18 Jan)

James Smith, 28, of Collinfield, Kendal, was arrested immediately following the incident and charged this morning (20 January). He is due to appear at Barrow Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Following the incident, a man in his 30s was taken to hospital with injuries suspected of being caused by a knife or other bladed article. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening and he has since been released from hospital.

The incident occurred at around 3.15pm in Boots in Stricklandgate in Kendal.

Acting Detective Inspector Lee Brumpton said: “Any report of an assault involving a knife is taken extremely seriously. In this instance, police and our NWAS colleagues responded swiftly to the incident and the suspect was under arrest and the injured man receiving treatment within minutes.

“We continue to urge anyone who witnessed the incident or the moments leading up to it to come forward in order to help officers with their on-going investigation.”

Officers are continuing to investigate and are urging anyone who witnessed what occurred and is yet to come forward – or anyone else with information which might assist – to contact police.

Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit , quoting incident number 121 of 18 January 2023. You can also phone on 101.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.