A BOY was stabbed as he was attacked while cycling home from school in Leigh - leaving him needing five stitches to the wound in his arm.

The 14-year-old sustained the injuries after being targeted in Eaton Road on Thursday, as he travelled home from Belfairs Academy.

Essex Police has since arrested a boy on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and he was being quizzed by officers on Friday.

The victim’s parents have been left furious by the incident, but are thankful that their son did not suffer worse injuries.

The boy says he was approached by two boys, with one pulling out a knife and swinging at him as he reached into his pocket.

The father said: “He is cycling home from school, so you don’t expect this, we heard him come through the front door, and he was like I’ve been stabbed, he was clutching his arm, and there was blood everywhere.

“I was afraid, and angry as I could hear the worry in his voice, we obviously took him straight to A&E, where he needed five stitches.

“I couldn’t believe it, it is shocking that for a few words, he felt the way to deal with the confrontation was to bring a knife, and he was swinging it at him, it could’ve gone anywhere.

“I am grateful the fact he wasn’t killed, and that he is fine really, because when a knife is used, you don’t always come home.”

Officers are appealing for an witnesses to come forward with information.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We have arrested a boy on suspicion of causing GBH.

“He is currently in custody.

“It is in relation to an incident that took place in Eaton Road on Thursday, June 9, where a boy sustained an arm injury from an unknown object.

“We continue to work to establish the facts.

“We need anyone who saw anything to contact us.

“If you have any information, you can submit a report online at www.essex.police.uk or use the ‘live chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am to11pm.

“Please quote incident 728 of June 9.

“You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”