A teenager was taken to hospital after he was stabbed in the Lidl car park in Romford this afternoon.

Romford Recorder: Police at the scene in Atlanta Boulevard this afternoon. Photo: Liam ColemanPolice at the scene in Atlanta Boulevard this afternoon. Photo: Liam Coleman (Image: Liam Coleman)

Attackers who stabbed a teenager were waiting outside Lidl in Romford according to a bus driver who saw the incident.

The young man was taken to hospital this afternoon (Tuesday, November 20) after he was stabbed in the supermarket car park in Atlanta Boulevard.

The bus driver had just finished his shift and said he saw the teenager walk out, before two others attacked him and ran off.

He said: “I was filling out some paperwork, and then I saw the the boy come out of Lidl at the back.

Romford Recorder: Police at the scene in Atlanta Boulevard this afternoon. Photo: Liam ColemanPolice at the scene in Atlanta Boulevard this afternoon. Photo: Liam Coleman (Image: Liam Coleman)

“He was attacked as he walked out, they stabbed him and then ran off.

“I didn’t really know what to do, I rang the police and they were here within minutes.

“The boys must have known each other.”

Police and ambulance services were called at around 1.20pm.

Romford Recorder: A crime scene is still in place in Romford. Photo: Liam ColemanA crime scene is still in place in Romford. Photo: Liam Coleman (Image: Liam Coleman)

Buses were moved out of their depot so that the air ambulance could land, however the teenager was taken to hospital via land ambulance.

Clients at FitnessFirst, next door to Lidl, were kept inside for at least four hours, and still couldn’t get home because their cars were within the police cordon.

Imma Dalleshi, 35, is a trainer at the gym and said a client told her about what happened.

She said: “We were in the middle of the session when she got a call from her mum who was sitting in the car park because she trains after her. She said that she should leave straight away because lots of police had just arrived.

“It’s been a bad day - you just don’t know why people are carrying knives.

“Our clients have been stuck here all day and they can’t leave because of where their cars are parked.”

Tracey Richardson, 46, is the manager of A1 cabs and said the incident shows that violence in Romford is getting worse.

She said: “It was just around the corner, it’s shocking that it is this close to home.

“We are used to lots of police being in the town centre, so I didn’t think twice when I heard the sirens.

“You just think, oh what’s happened now.

“I hope he is OK, it shows we need more police on the streets.”

Another person at the scene said: “Romford is awful these days.

“This is happening more and more, kids are carrying knives and they are getting younger and younger.

“It’s a joke.”

No arrests have been made, and we are awaiting further updates on the condition of the teenager.