CHILDREN and parents living in fear of gang-related knife attacks are buying stab-proof body armour.

Fear of knife crime in Walthamstow has soared to such a high level that children as young as ten are willing to spend large sums of cash to protect themselves.

We spoke to a 16-year-old student who wears the armour every time he goes out. The owner of an army surplus shop in Walthamstow who sells these vests also described the trend.

The student, who is being named Jon to protect his identity, told the Guardian: "I wear it for protection. I have been threatened by people in gangs. They said they would kill me. Conflicts happen.

"I know of two guys around my age who were stabbed. One of them ended up in intensive care. I don't want that to happen to me."

Jon said he did not carry a knife but feels the body armour makes him more confident to go out with his friends.

"Most of the conflicts are territorial stuff but I was threatened over a situation with a girl. My mum's happy with me wearing the vest.

"It's extra security," he added.

His mother went with him to buy the garment, costing £100, from the military surplus shop Eastman Army Camp in Walthamstow High Street.

Owner Ashgar Jilow, 54, said there had been a big increase in the number of young customers trying to buy body armour.

He said: "I do not sell the vests to anyone who looks under 18, but they come back with their parents. I have had children aged from around ten to 13 offering to pay with cash.

"It is worrying that they feel they need to buy this sort of thing. They seem to be carrying a lot of money around with them too."

Prices vary from £65 to over £200, and extra plates can also be ordered to slot into the vests.

The vests in stock include surplus Metropolitan Police Service and military supplies. Some are bullet proof and fitted with extra neck protection.

Mr Jilow said: "Most of my customers are bouncers and security staff. But there is definitely a growing market out there among young people.

"I think some of them wear the body armour as a fashion statement. These children can be persistent and try to make trouble if I don't agree to sell to them.

"I was surprised the first time that a parent came in with their son to buy one, but nothing surprises me any more."

Last year, just two weeks after we launched our Lives Not Knives campaign, we revealed that up to a third of secondary school children in Waltham Forest claimed to carry knives.

The research was carried out by the Be Safe Project, an anti-knife organisation that works with children, and the council.

Sessions are being run by this group at schools around the borough in a bid to discourage youngsters from carrying weapons.