A man has described the moment he and a friend were stabbed after being chased by a gang armed with knives and bats.

The incident took place in West Road, Shoebury, happened on Monday at about 4.30pm and police are appealing for information.

One of the victims, who has asked to remain anonymous, said they were forced to fight off their attackers despite being outnumbered.

He said: “Me and a friend went to question this guy about an incident that had happened the week before.

“But we ended up getting chased by a gang of about 15 to 20 people all armed with knives and bats and things.

“We ran back to the yard of my business in West Road and managed to lock the gates, but they broke them down and started attacking us.

“My friend got a huge laceration to his face which required eight staples and I was stabbed twice in the back.

“I didn’t even feel it at the time - it must have been the adrenaline. I was more worried about my friend.

“We went to hospital and got stitched up and I was back at work yesterday.

“It did leave me a bit shaken. It obviously wasn’t a nice thing to have happened at all.

Read more: Video shows moment armed gang fight two men in yard

“There were two of us and at least 15 of them and they were trying to do their worst.

“We had to pick different things up from around the yard to try and defend ourselves and they ended up running off eventually.”

Police have launched an investigation after the incident.

A spokesman said: “We are investigating this serious assault in Shoebury.

“We received reports that around 4.30pm two men had been assaulted with a knife following an altercation with a large group of people on West Road.

“Two men in their 20s were taken to hospital with non-serious injuries.”

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Southend CID on 101 quoting incident 684 of March 26.

Alternatively information can be passed on to the indepedent crimefighting charity Crimestoppers completely anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online.