Waiter stabbed in chest by gang

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A 22-year-old waiter has been stabbed in the chest after chasing off a group of youths who were drinking in a street behind the restaurant where he works.

The victim was one of three members of staff from the Taj Mahal restaurant in Farnworth, Bolton, who asked the gang of up to a dozen youths to move on.

Police say one of the youths threw a bottle at the men who then chased them down the street on Friday night.

However during the chase one of the waiters was stabbed three times.

Punctured lung

He suffered a punctured lung in the attack at about 2140 BST and was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital where his condition is described as "stable".

The youths, who are described as white, in their mid-teens and who were wearing dark clothing, ran off towards the Asda car park following the incident.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said at this stage of the inquiry the force is not looking at any racial motive.

Detective inspector Paul Hitchen, of Bolton CID, said: "The staff went outside because they saw these youths were drinking and they didn't want them to damage any of their cars, which were parked at the back of the restaurant.

"They managed to chase them away, but the victim - who was leading the chase - was stabbed in the chest by one of them when they got to the end of the back street.

"He is currently in a stable condition.

"We want to hear from anyone who may have seen this group hanging round, possibly drinking, earlier in the evening.

"Maybe someone had earlier moved them on after they congregated outside other premises."