THREE teenagers were hospitalised after being stabbed during a vicious gang fight in Chingford.

The bleeding boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, tried to leave the scene of triple knifing, in Kings Road, on a bus, to the horror of passengers.

But the driver stopped the vehicle, and the boys went to the Larkshall Medical Centre, in Larkshall Road, for medical treatment.

Two of the boys were stabbed in the chest and the 17-year-old was wounded in the abdomen.

The 15-year-old is stable, while the other two are in a serious, but not life-threatening condition.

Janet Glanvill, 50, who works at a hairdresser's in Kings Road, described the aftermath of the horrifying attack.

She said: "I came out of work and I saw two black boys holding up quite a big mixed-race boy.

"I asked them what happened and they told me he had been stabbed.

"I also saw three black boys propping up another boy.

"They were carrying him because he couldn't walk."

Mrs Glanvill added: "There were about 20 teenagers milling around outside the bus.

"There were lots of girls as well as boys. They all looked scared.

"I have been working at the hairdresser's in Chingford for the last three years.

"It has always been quite a safe place. It has never been this rough here."

Police believe the three boys were with five friends when another group of four teenagers approached them.

One of the teenagers began arguing with the 17-year-old victim and stabbed him.

As his friends tried to help him they too were stabbed.

The culprits, all described as black and aged between 18 and 20, fled towards Hatch Lane.

The main attacker is described as lighter-skinned, and was wearing an orange bandana with a white cowboy pattern over his face.

He was also wearing a navy blue Nike jacket.

Another of the knifemen was described as about 6ft with a deep voice and slight moustache.

The incident happened on Tuesday at about 5.10pm. Nobody has been arrested and officers are keeping an open mind regarding the motive.

Anyone with information should call Waltham Forest CID on 020 8345 2376 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.