A MAN has been arrested in connection with a serious assault.

Armed police officers arrested a 19-year-old man from Brentwood on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent just after midnight on Sunday March 9 on the Eastham estate where the assault took place on Friday March 7.

A 27-year-old Brentwood man almost had his left hand sliced off by a youth who was in possession of a large knife outside a house on the estate at 11.55pm.

He was taken to Basildon University Hospital and was later transferred to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

An Essex Police spokesman said the man remains in a sedated but stable condition after undergoing extensive surgery to save his hand throughout Saturday (March 8).

Detectives have not yet been able to speak to him about what happened but they hope he will be able to identify his assailants.

A further search of the area has been carried out in order to find any discarded weapons.

Detectives continue to question the 19-year-old at Brentwood police station.