A teenager was stabbed in broad daylight near Romford train station on Wednesday.

Schoolchildren and shoppers witnessed the attack just before 4pm by the railway bridge in busy South Street.

The 19-year-old man was taken to Queen’s Hospital with a wound to his left arm.

A group of black youths were seen gathered at the spot at the entrance to the alley between South Street and Atlanta Boulevard.

Shaun Gordon, a student and footballer from Romford, was in nearby E&M Newsagents when the attack happened.

He said: “I saw a group of people when I walked in but I didn’t think anything of it, you see groups near the station all the time.

“It was weird, it happened so quickly. I went in the shop for about a minute and when I came out someone had been stabbed.”

The injured man was taken to Queen’s Hospital by ambulance and discharged later in the day.

Police said his wound was “minor” and Mr Gordon said the man did not seem to be “in agony” after the attack.

The area was cordoned off by police on Wednesday afternoon. A paramedic’s bag could be seen next to shopping bags and a black jumper behind the cordon.

In November last year, a man was stabbed in the North Street underpass and last April a 29-year-old man was knifed outside Romford night spot the Brickyard.

Romford Town has the highest crime rate in Havering and the most violent crime.

Out of the 60 incidents of violence against the person in the town last month, 18 were in the area around the train station.

Mr Gordon, 18, said the attack didn’t worry him.

He said: “I live in Romford and I’m aware that stuff happens. I’m just trying to get on with what I’ve got to do.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact DC Haworth at Romford CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.