Herts Police closed a major Watford road this afternoon after a man was hospitalised with injuries to his face in a serious attack.

There was heavy congestion in and around St Albans Road, near the junction with Balmoral Road, this afternoon as the force has put road closures in place.

Police vehicles were seen parked in the carriageway and cones were laid out to block off a stretch of the road.

Police officers in St Albans Road this afternoon.Police officers in St Albans Road this afternoon. (Image: Contribution)

A police spokesperson confirmed they called at 1.59pm to reports of an attack in St Albans Road.

Officers and the ambulance service raced to the scene where they found a man in his 50s with facial injuries, leading him to be hospitalised.

Closure near the junction with Balmoral Road. (Image: Google Maps)

The investigation is ongoing but further details are unclear - such as if any weapons were used and how many people were involved.

It is also currently not known if it was a targeted attack. Police have been contacted for clarification.

An eyewitness described the moment the emergency services descended on the area: "It was an ambulance first and then two police cars came in quite quickly, and then a couple of people in a plain clothes police car arrived, sending everybody back up the street."

Another said they saw "a couple of officers running down the road looking for someone but they didn’t find them and came back".

Motorists were advised to avoid the area while the road was closed between Leavesden Road and Balmoral Road, although it has now been lifted and traffic is moving smoothly.

Any information can be reported on 101 or online at herts.police.uk/report, quoting ISR 385 of September 27.