A man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed outside a McDonald's restaurant near King’s Cross station in the early hours of the morning.

Police were called to reports of a stabbing at the junction between York Way and Pentonville Road in Islington at 1.15am on Wednesday.

The victim, a 28-year-old male, was treated by paramedics and taken to a north London hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.

The scene remained cordoned off throughout Wednesday morning as confused rush hour crowds filed past police tape on their way to work.

Blood could be seen spattered across the pavement and in the entrance of McDonald's, where the victim was taken in the immediate aftermath of the attack just a few yards away.

The 24-hour fast food restaurant was shut this morning while a forensics team assessed the scene.

Blood-soaked tissues used to stem the flowof blood from the wound were strewn across the restaurant floor.

Staff at an off licence across the road described seeing a "huge police presence" outside the McDonald's when they arrived to open up early this morning.

Detectives believe the victim was attacked by another man who had a distinctive afro haircut and “wispy” moustache.

An image from the scene showed a police cordon erected on the pavement outside a McDonald’s restaurant, which is open 24 hours a day.

The suspect is described as a white or light-skinned black male. Police said he was wearing a royal blue coloured jacket, with a black top underneath, light blue denim jeans and white and grey trainers. He also had thick-rimmed spectacles on.

Detectives believe there were a number of witnesses in the area at the time of the incident and have urged them to come forward. There have not been any arrests.

Anyone with information is asked to call Islington CID on 0208 345 0296, the police non-emergency line on 101, anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by tweeting @MetCC