Following the Esplanade stabbing – and the attack on Wednesday when a woman suffered a knife wound in Jubilee Close – Cllr Francis Drake said: “ This seems to be an ongoing issue and it’s very worrying. I don’t know how we’re going to stop it – how do you stop someone carrying a knife – do you stop and search?

"A lot of it is due to police budget cuts, I worry about the lack of police on the ground."

Cllr Drake claimed Weymouth was "not a safe place to go out", adding: "I was on The Esplanade with friends recently and we felt unsafe walking down the front at 9pm, due to some of the characters who were about."

Cllr Mike Byatt said: “It’s always a concern when a serious incident such as a stabbing takes place."

He said the council worked with the police to improve community safety.

Cllr Byatt added: "I will be seeking assurance from the police that patrols will be increased on The Esplanade.

“The public at large needs to feel reassured that Weymouth is safe. I hope and trust that these two stabbings are isolated incidents.

“If anyone has any information that could help the police I’d encourage them to contact 101.”

Robert Gutteridge, owner of the Tea Cabin on The Esplanade: “There’s been a notable increase in problems here. A lot of it is due to less police presence, a lot of policing is done by car these days unfortunately – there’s nothing like a constable on foot.”