A gold chain was said to be the cause of a gang fight that resulted in a teenager being stabbed in the stomach.

The 15-year-old boy had been sitting with a group of friends at a park on the corner of East Avenue and Vestry Road in Walthamstow, when he was approached by a gang of up to 12 teenagers.

One of the boys grabbed the chain around the victim's throat, and when the chain broke a fight erupted during which the boy was stabbed in the stomach and left for dead.

Police were called following the attack at 4.25pm on Saturday, and the boy was taken to Whipps Cross hospital and later transferred to the Royal Free Hospital. His condition is stable.

60-year-old Mark Harrington, who has lived in East Avenue for 30 years, said he saw a group of teenagers “hanging around” the park just before he went out.

The father-of-three said: “They were all wearing their trousers low and had their hoods up, and were hanging around in the road looking threatening. "I came back at 6pm to find the road had been closed by police.

“I was very shocked because it is a great little park. It took two years of planning and funding to get it transformed from concrete. It is beautiful now, the kids love it.

"Teenagers often hang around and play football, but we don’t normally have any trouble.

“It is happening all over the place. It is very worrying as a father.

"I just hope they get whoever did it.”

A 40-year-old mum-of-five, of East Avenue, who was too afraid to be named, said: “We were very shocked.

"This area has got so much worse since I moved in seven years ago. I don’t like going out after dark now.“ No arrests have been made but Police are continuing to make enquiries.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact DC Pej at Chingford CID on 020 8345 3276 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.