Medical staff in Bolton deal with a stab victim a day, a senior accident and emergency doctor has revealed.

Dr Chris Moulton branded Bolton a "violent town" and said there has been a notable increase in the number of people being admitted with knife injuries.

He spoke out as detectives revealed Keith Platt, who was stabbed to death outside a Farnworth pub last Friday, only left his home after his half-brother called to say he had been involved in a fight.

Dr Moulton, who has worked at the Royal Bolton Hospital for 15 years, said although victims of stabbings only make up a small proportion of those admitted with injuries from fights and attacks, the issue has become a "significant problem".

He said: "We're certainly seeing a steady trickle of people with stab injuries being admitted; probably one a day and possibly more at the weekends.

"They might have been stabbed with a knife, but we also treat people who have suffered injuries from broken glass, syringes and even tools.

"In terms of serious stabbings which could cause a threat to life, I would estimate that we are seeing one a week and, sadly, a small percentage of those end with death.

"Bolton has always been a violent town but I think that it's not getting better and if anything its getting worse."

Mr Platt, aged 30, died from multiple stab wounds to his stomach.

He had been called by half brother, Tony Callaghan who is thought to have become involved in a row with a group of up to 10 men in Farnworth town centre on Friday evening and suffered a broken nose after being punched.

Mr Platt went to the town to see Mr Callaghan and was then attacked himself.

Last night, his mother paid tribute to her "gentleman" son.

Julie Fitzsimmons said: "Keith was a bubbly, friendly lad. He was loved by all who knew him. Keith was very artistic. He loved art and enjoyed doing pencil drawings.

"He was very good with computers. He loved playing computer games and had begun inventing his own computer games that he was presenting to companies.

"It was his ambition in life to pursue a career in this field. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and looked forward to a lad's night in' with his mates and brother every Monday.

"The people responsible for Keith's death have not only taken his life, but also mine and other family members'. It has left a massive void in our closely-knit family and his whole circle of friends will miss him terribly."

Murder squad detectives are investigating whether the two groups of attackers are the same men and are continuing to question two suspects, aged 19 and 20.

Mr Platt was stabbed several times and found bleeding heavily by passing police officers who witnessed the assault close to the Post Office pub at 11.15pm.

He was conscious and talking to paramedics on his way to the Royal Bolton Hospital but doctors were unable to stop the bleeding and he died soon after arriving at casualty.

Two knives have been recovered, including a 10-inch carving knife which was found on the dance floor of the Post Office pub.

Police do not believe Mr Platt had intended to leave his home in Grosvenor Street, Kearsley, until he was called by his half-brother.

Officers are scouring hours of CCTV footage as they continue to appeal for information about the murder.

Mr Platt's step-father, Leonard Fitzsimmons, said: "Tony is physically all right but very upset. The pair of them were very close and always have been. He's spoken to the police and told them what he knows."

Mr Platt's father, Colin Platt, aged 58, who also lives in Grosvenor Street, said: "I was very surprised to hear that he had been in town because he'd had a bad back and hadn't been able to work. He hadn't been out for months."

The murder was one of three fatal stabbings across Greater Manchester at the weekend.

Seven people were arrested over the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old Stephen Parkin outside the Premier Lodge in Stockport Road, Hattersley, in the early hours of Saturday.

Police are also investigating a third fatal stabbing in the Moss Side area of the city early on Saturday morning.

The 24-year-old man, who last night had not been formally identified, died in hospital following an incident at the Moss Side Community Centre.

In a statement issued by Greater Manchester Police, Assistant Chief Constable Ian Seabridge said: "The deaths of three men in separate incidents at the weekend show how dangerous and devastating the use of knives and bladed weapons can be.

"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the victims' families, and I want to reassure people that good headway is being made in the investigations.

"To have three people killed in one day across Greater Manchester as a result of such weapons is very unusual.

"There is an average of just over 3,000 incidents involving knives and bladed weapons in Greater Manchester each year, which represents less than one per cent of total crime.

"GMP takes all such crime very seriously and we are determined to reduce the number of offensive weapons on our streets."

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The rise in knife culture in Bolton as a town and Greater Manchester as a whole has prompted dozens of comments on our original report on the murder of Keith Platt on this website on Saturday morning. Click HERE to read them and add your opinions.