A pregnant woman was stabbed three times by a man police believe was trying to kill her.

Victim Stacey Clarke was rushed to hospital after being attacked by a knifeman, who then went on the run.

Six-month pregnant Stacey was last night still in a serious condition, but luckily her baby had not been hurt.

A police source said it was “remarkable” that the baby was alive and “developing as expected” last night.

Neighbours said Stacey, who is in her 20s, was due to give birth on September 2.

Her distraught father Gordon told The Argus from their home in Black Dog Walk, Crawley: “It’s attempted murder.”

Mr Clarke confirmed that Stacey was critically ill but added that he was too upset to speak any more about the incident.

Stacey, who is thought to already have a daughter, had a scan picture of her unborn child on her Facebook page.

Friends said she had been stabbed twice in the neck and once in the shoulder in a flat in Northgate Parade, Crawley, shortly after midnight on Saturday.

The man who stabbed her went on the run.

But a suspect handed himself in to police at the cordon at 4am on Saturday.

Stacey was left fighting for her life at St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, and her health deteriorated on Saturday, but her condition had improved slightly last night.

One of her best friends said: “She is pregnant and we are all now thinking of her. She is a lovely girl.”

Another woman added: “I heard that a blonde girl had been stabbed and I thought ‘I bet that is Stacey’.

“I think she was due on September 2. She was excited about the baby.

“She is a nice girl.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said they were called to the incident by ambulance staff.

He added: “Police were called on Saturday to an address in Northgate Parade.

“A female was found to have been seriously injured.

“Shortly afterwards at 4am on Saturday a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.”

Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Wardley.

Police yesterday said the attack was an isolated incident and other people did not need to be worried.

UPDATE: Shahid Mahmood, 25, a labourer, of The Parade, Northgate, Crawley, West Sussex, appeared at Mid Sussex Magistrates' Court today charged with attempted murder.

He has been remanded in custody and will next appear at Lewes Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on June 15, police said.

The woman is now in the intensive care unit at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London, where she underwent an operation and is now described as conscious and stable.