Patients were warned not to attend A&E after a stabbing at the Old Street roundabout forced Moorfields Eye Hospital to close.

A 36-year-old man was attacked outside the City Road hospital at 5.40pm yesterday.

The victim was rushed to an east London hospital where his injuries were not deemed to be life-changing.

A 23-year-old man who was arrested later the same day on suspicion of attempted murder remains in custody.

The hospital asked people not to attend its A&E department, before reopening later in the evening.

In a statement online, Moorfields Hospital said: "Please do not visit our A&E at City Road.

"The area is currently blocked off by the police due to an incident in the area. If you have an eye emergency, sudden sight loss or injury, please log on to speak to one of our doctors online first."

Old Street Roundabout and Great Eastern Street were both closed causing considerable disruption.

One man who came out of the hospital two minutes after the assault tweeted: “Massive stabbing outside Moorfields eye hospital.

“Old bill have closed all the roads.

“Traffic is now seriously messed up.”

A spokesman for Moorfields said: "The hospital was not closed at any stage, and access to A&E via City Road was affected for about three hours.

"We asked A&E patients to contact us through our video consultation service before travelling.

"For patients who needed to come in, we moved the A&E entrance to the side of the hospital so they could get access to our services and so that their treatment wasn’t affected.

"The treatment of patients was not affected by the incident and access was maintained at all times for emergency vehicles and patients."

Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not already spoken to police should call 101, providing reference CAD5439/06MAY.

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.