A TEENAGER was stabbed by a gang of men near a children’s playground.

The 17-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after being attacked at 3.30pm yesterday, near the play area at Norwich Walk, on Basildon’s Craylands estate.

He remained in a serious condition at Basildon Hospital last night.

It is believed a gang of mainly black men and one white man stabbbed him, before fleeing.

The victim, who is thought to live in Norwich Walk, managed to struggle to a nearby convenience store where police and paramedics were called.

Residents were left in shock as officers sealed off the scene, searching it for clues.

One woman, aged in her thirties of Norwich Walk, said: “I came out to the bin when I saw all these police.

“They had sealed off the area and my neighbour said there had been a stabbing.

“I’m just glad I’m moving out of here. This estate is terrible.”

Another resident, a 40-year-old man from Lincoln Road, said: “Everyone is saying it was gang-related.

“I wouldn’t be surprised. There are always people hanging around in gangs on this estate. It shouldn’t be allowed to happen.

“Craylands is just getting worse and worse. Hopefully it will be better when they knock it down.”

Yesterday afternoon, police had cordoned off parts of the estate, stretching from the playground, in Norwich Walk, all the way to the shops.

The convenience store had also been closed and sealed off and was being treated as a crime scene.

At the playground, officers had put up a tarpaulin to preserve a bottle, thought to be evidence relating to the stabbing.

However, it is not clear whether the bottle was the weapon used to stab the teenager.

Det Insp Simon Anslow, of Basildon police, said: “I can confirm a boy has been assaulted and appears to have been stabbed.

“He has been taken to Basildon hospital.

“The victim was a black male and the offence was committed by a group of black males and one white male.

“As yet, no arrests have been made, but I would urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to contact us immediately.”

Witnesses to the stabbing can contact detectives at Pitsea CID on 0300 3334444 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.