A waiter has described the moment two men chased a group of boys down a busy high street armed with what he called a "machete".

Two teenagers aged 16 and 18 are currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being stabbed in George Lane, South Woodford, shortly before midnight on Bank Holiday Monday (August 31).

Police were called to reports of a fight and found one of teenager suffering from stab wounds.

Soon afterwards, the second teenager was found injured near the Broadmead Estate area in Woodford Green.

A 38-year-old waiter, who works in George Lane and wished to remain anonymous, had finished his shift for the night when he watched the drama unfold.

He was pulling out of Eastwood Road when he saw three boys being chased by two boys by the parade of shops and restaurants at the top of George Lane.

He said: "I suddenly saw three guys running, they were being chased by two other guys.

"One of the two boys was holding something that looked like a machete, the object was very long.

"Two of the three boys being chased managed to get into a car but the third guy had one foot in the door when they two other boys caught up with car.

“They were pulling at the door so the driver drove off leaving the third guy behind.

“The car was swerving all other the road but then came to an awkward stop before the roundabout.

"The two men caught up with the guy who had been left behind but I didn’t see what happened next.

The waiter turned right towards the traffic lights and that’s when he saw one of the victims on the floor by the Laura Ashley store.

"He was lying on the floor holding his stomach," he added.

"Another friend was leaning over him and was on the phone shouting for an ambulance.

"I knew something terrible had happened."

General manager of Zizzi’s, Daniel McNeshie, had left for the evening but returned yesterday morning to find police had cordoned off an area opposite the restaurant.

"I’m shocked by what has happened, he said.

“South Woodford is a peaceful area.

“I've lived in this area my entire life and not heard of anything like this happening."

Officers from Redbridge CID are investigating and no arrests have been made.