Two security guards have been stabbed when they tried to stop thieves looting an Oxford Street shop.

The incident occurred outside the Nike Town sports shop near Oxford Circus in central London shortly after 7pm on Saturday, the Met Police said.

Two guards aged 21 and 33 were treated for stab wounds after they were attacked while trying to stop a gang of about eight teenage shoplifters.

One of the gang stabbed the older man in the back and arm and knifed his younger colleague in the leg.

A female member of the shop's security staff, aged 22, was also punched in the face.

One of the men was taken to hospital for treatment, where his condition was described as stable but not life-threatening, and the other was treated at the scene.

A Met Police spokesman said: "At this early stage it appears a number of males - around eight - allegedly stole items of clothing from the Nike Town store and were followed out by security staff.

"Only one of the suspects produced a knife and he was responsible for the injuries to both men. He lost his T-shirt in the fracas and was last seen running shirtless up Oxford St towards the Tottenham Court Road end.

"The suspects are though to be aged early to mid-teens - some black and some white."

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