A man was knocked off his motorbike before being attacked with a hammer in Colchester.

Residents at the junction of Mersea Road and Berechurch Hall Road watched on in horror as people got out of a car before attacking the biker and leaving him bleeding in the middle of the road.

The incident happened on Monday at around 7.30pm.

The East of England Ambulance Service took the victim to hospital and he is thought to be in a stable condition.

One resident of Berechurch Hall Road, who did not wish to be named, said: “There were a lot of crowds watching on and trying to help him.

“It’s such a shock to know something like this has happened. That could have been a child.”

Another woman who lives near the scene said: “I saw the man on the floor afterwards and he was trying to sit up and conscious.

“Hopefully he will be ok now he has been taken to hospital. It is such a dreadful thing to happen.”

Police closed the road following the incident and spoke to residents to take witness statements as well as redirecting traffic.

Another neighbour was driving his cab at the time with a passenger in the back when his fare received a call.

He said: “He just got this call to say his friend had been stabbed in the legs.

“I know the guy. He’s a bit of a character and is quite quiet.

I have never heard of anything like this happening here, but unfortunately stuff like this happens everywhere.”

An Essex Police spokesman said no arrests had been made.

He said: “Police received reports of a stabbing in Berechurch Hall Road, Colchester, at around 7.40pm on Monday, August 21.

“A man aged in his 20s was riding his motorcycle when he was stopped by suspects in a silver Vauxhall Astra.

“He was then attacked with a hammer and suffered a small stab wound to the back of the leg. The suspects drove off from the scene.

“The victim was taken to hospital for his injuries. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”