A 14-year-old boy has been left in a serious condition after being stabbed.

The boy, from Ilford, was in Pleasant Road, Southend, at 8.35am today when he suffered stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and is in a stable condition.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "The East of England Service received an emergency 999 call to Pleasant Road Southend this morning at 8.35am after reports of a stabbing.

"An ambulance, ambulance car and ambulance officer were sent. On arrival they treated a male in his teens, he was taken to hospital for further treatment."

Two men who were seen running from the scene were arrested following a short police chase.

A 35-year-old man from Suffolk and a 17-year-old boy from Watford were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent.

They remain in custody for questioning.

Police are treating this as a targeted attack with no wider risk to the public.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Southend CID on 101 quoting incident 171 of 17/11 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.