A teenager is being treated in hospital after being stabbed twice in the back.

Police and the air ambulance were called at 2.30pm after a 17-year-old boy was attacked in Palace Street, Canterbury.

He was airlifted to hospital with what are being described as "serious injuries".

Julie Nuttall, owner of The Cheese Shop, reacted after seeing three people run past her business.

She said: "I just saw three young fellas running past my shop. One of them was clearly in pursuit of the other two. I didn't know there was a knife or anything.

"Then I saw a lot of alarmed-looking people, so I went outside and I saw he was on the floor of The Running Outlet next door. The girl manning the shop was on the phone to the police.

"He was just a young boy and he had been stabbed in the back twice, so I held the wound together and talked to him. It was just instinctive.

"His friend was in the shop, sat on a seat. I think he was shocked as well.

"It felt like it was a long time; I was thinking it was about 20 minutes, but it was probably just 10.

"The police came and took over, so I went back to my shop, closed up and went home."

The victim is in a London hospital with injuries police say are consistent with a stab wound.

A spokesman for the force said: "No arrests have yet been made. Local officers are at the scene conducting inquiries.

"The injuries are described as serious but not life threatening."

Police cordoned off a section of the popular shopping thoroughfare outside Siesta Crafts and Cafe Chambers.

Resident Joe Egerton, 68, witnessed the emergency response.

He said: "I saw the police arriving in force and the ambulance arriving. There were about four police cars and a couple of ambulances.

"He was just a young boy and he had been stabbed in the back twice"

"The air ambulance landed on Green Court close to the Cathedral.

"If it hadn't been for Julie, it could have been very much worse. It's dreadful that this has happened in Canterbury. It's shocking.

"There's no reason for people to be worried about shopping in Canterbury. This is an anomaly."

The incident prompted MP Rosie Duffield to assure residents it was not a terrorist incident and instead "a local matter".

She said: "Hearing reports of a stabbing incident. The street is now closed while Kent Police deal with it so please avoid if you can.

"Thanks to all our emergency services for acting quickly and local retailers who heroically stepped in to help.

"My thoughts are with the young person involved and his loved ones, hoping he makes a full recovery very quickly."

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to call them on 01843 222289, quoting the reference number 21-0732.

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