A 40-year-old man has been stabbed during an attempted robbery in Hamilton.

On Friday at 3.45pm, the victim was walking his dog in a wooded area near Whistleberry Crescent.

A man approached him and demanded he hand over his mobile phone.

The victim refused and was stabbed in the abdomen.

The suspect ran off, possibly in the direction of Margaret Road.

The victim was taken to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, where he is still receiving treatment. Hospital staff have described his condition as stable.

The suspect is white, aged between 20 and 29 and was wearing a red hooded top and dark trousers.

Detective constable Grant Robertson at Cambuslang CID said: "This was a totally unprovoked, violent attack on a man who was merely out walking his dog in the middle of the afternoon.

"He has been left with a serious injury and it is vital that we catch the suspect as he may harm someone else.

"I'd like to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Whistleberry Crescent or nearby and may have seen the suspect hanging around the area or anyone else who recognises his description."

Anyone with information can contact police on 101.