A man was stabbed in Clerkenwell last night – and neighbours from a nearby estate say they saw a group of men with knives prior to the attack.

Cops were called at about 10.30pm to reports of a man being stabbed in St John Street, near the junction with Rosebery Avenue.

Police officers and paramedics soon attended, where they found a man, believed to be in his 20s, suffering from knife wounds.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: “He was taken to an east London hospital - his condition is not thought to be life threatening.

“Officers from the Central North Command Unit investigate.”

No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.

But Thomas Cooper, the TMO manager for Spa Green estate, which backs onto the crime scene, said: “When the police turned up they taped off St John Street from the junction with Lloyds Row all the way up to Rosebery Avenue.

“A resident came to speak to me – they said they were looking through their window and saw a group of youths, aged 18 to 24.

“They saw a young man with his back to the wall with a knife in his hand.

“He was surrounded by a group of 10 others and at least three of them had knives out.”

Thomas said he led a small search party around the estate and surrounding area but didn’t find any blades or blood.

He said the neighbour who spotted the knife wielding group was too afraid to speak with police.

“I told them they should have called for help,” added Thomas. “I said, what if that had been your child?

“Luckily someone else saw and must have called 999.”

Did you see what happened? Call Lucas at the newsdesk on 0207 4330121, or email lucas.cumiskey@archant.co.uk