Blood-stained clothes were left in the street after a double stabbing, residents say.

On Monday night (March 16) a man in his 20s was stabbed sitting in his car and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The victim is now in a stable condition and police describe his injuries as 'not life threatening' after the attack in Borwick Avenue.

Sonny Mehmet of nearby Borwick Avenue said the initial attack happened outside his house.

He said: “It is sickening. I left the house for about seven minutes to get an orange juice and by the time I came back my road was completely closed off.

“I could see blood outside my house in the road and I was shaking.

"But there was no-one there except for police I thought he must have driven off.

“Where are we heading to? It is terrifying but criminals will always be one step ahead of the police.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Blood on the curb of Burwick Road.

Residents of nearby Bedford Road said the victim was picked up by emergency services and his car, believed to be a black Toyota Yaris, was left with its doors open.

The victim’s clothes including bloody socks were left strewn in the street next to the William Morris Gallery in Forest Road as police conducted their investigation.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Bedford Road where the car was recovered, blood remains on the floor

One resident of Bedford Road, who did not want to be named, said:

"It was a mess. His clothes were everywhere on the floor and police were treating it like a murder scene. He must have somehow driven here."

Daniel Mutombo, 23, of Westley Road, Basildon, appeared in custody at Thames Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (March 18) charged with attempted murder.