Police have said two stabbings within six hours on Canvey are being treated as "separate but isolated incidents".

A pair of knife-wielding thugs are being hunted by police after two men were stabbed on the same night on Canvey.

The two victims are recovering in hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening after they were knifed just six hours apart on Monday evening.

At about 4.10pm, a man in his 20s was stabbed in the leg after he was set upon by two men in Poplar Road, Canvey.

He was stood next to his Vauxhall Astra when he was attacked by the men, who also smashed his car window.

In the second attack, which took place at 9.56pm in Benderloch, a man was stabbed in the stomach and leg after he was chased down an alleyway by two men.

The victim had been sitting in his Peugeot car when the suspects smashed his car windows.

He then got out and tried to ran off, but he tripped and fell and was attacked.

Essex Police have issued a description of two suspects involved in the second attack.

A spokesman said: “The first suspect has been described as being of mixed race, aged in his 20s, about 5ft 11ins tall, of a stocky build and was wearing a black jacket with a fur hood.

“The second suspect has been described as being aged in his 20s, around 5ft 11ins, of a slim build and was wearing a dark green khaki jacket. Police believe they were driving a dark Peugeot vehicle.”

Despite similarities in the two stabbings, police have said that they are investigating them as “targeted but separate incidents”.

Both victims are not in serious conditions.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We were called to reports of two stabbings in Poplar Road at 4.10pm, and Benderloch at 9.56pm on Monday.

“A rapid response vehicle and ambulance officer were sent down to the scenes. A man was treated for a leg injury, another patient had wounds to his stomach and leg.”

Residents were horrified by the attacks.

Barbara Withers, 81, of Cedar Road, Canvey, was a victim to a knife-point robbery in her home in February last year. The robber, who has never been caught, cut her arm with a blade.

She said: “It’s very bad, really terrible. I feel terrible for the victims. It is a horrible feeling, I know I did not feel okay again for a long time.

“We moved from Basildon to Canvey about five years ago, and I used to leave my back door unlocked, I could not do that here.

“It really worries me, I have young grandchildren and the thought of anything happening to them is so scary.

“I just cannot understand how someone can do that. It’s a horrible feeling when you are threatened.”

Shock and outrage from residents about recent attacks

A councillor was outraged by the brazen attacks on the island.

Independent Councillor Barry Palmer, representing Canvey Island South, said stabbings do not happen often on Canvey but he was extremely concerned the violence could be gang-related.

He said: “It’s absolutely shocking. In the last few months we’ve had youths causing trouble in the island. There’s been a gang of youths terrorising the Paddocks.

“And on Monday I read about a story of a man who needed surgery on his face after he was attacked by a gang of teenagers. And on bonfire night, the police issued a dispersal order because young people were causing havoc for residents. I’m just worried there’s a growing culture of youth gangs.

“Incidents like these happen because of various reasons. It could be revenge or drug-related.”

Mr Palmer said people are reticent to get involved with neighbourhood watch schemes.

He said: “We have neighbourhood watch schemes but they’ve watered down. The community used to work closely with the police but with police funding cut to the bone, there isn’t enough officers to help out. People don’t want to get involved because they could get hurt.”