A family who were stabbed and slashed at by knife wielding 'children' said they are having flashbacks of the horrific attack.

The grandparents said they - their grandson, daughter and son-in-law - were 'jumped on' by a gang of four armed, hooded youths on Tuesday night in Broadgreen, Liverpool.

They added that two of the thugs were armed with Stanley knives, one a screwdriver and another with 'a large curved flick blade'.

A 76-year-old was slashed with a knife on the face, close to his neck and had to have seven stitches

The family said they were attacked after confronting the group over the theft of a set of van keys, stolen from the grandparents parked vehicle.

However despite 'nicely asking' the gang to return the keys, the grandparents said the youths set upon them and stabbed their 20-year-old grandson.

The grandmother, aged 76, told how the group began jumping on the backs of her family, trying to slash and stab them - an image she and her husband are now finding hard to forget.

Recalling the horror, she said: 'We keep getting flashbacks. I just keep seeing them diving on the floor on top of us, with their knives.

'And him with his screwdriver, he didn't care where he stabbed it and me just in the middle of it all - I don't remember what I did.

'I can see the four of them just diving in and our grandson just full of blood.'

The attack left their 20-year-old grandson, who had been due to fly to Thailand just days later, in a serious condition in hospital with a stab wound to his stomach.

The grandmother said her husband was also injured and needed seven stitches to his face after being slashed, her daughter had her tooth broken and face scratched and her son-in-law received injuries to his legs, arms and back after being attacked by a screwdriver.

She added: 'We were literally fighting for our lives. One had a screwdriver and two had Stanley knives and one had a big curved flick blade.

His family were also stabbed and slashed at by knife wielding 'children' and said they are having flashbacks to the horrific attack

'They pulled their hoods up and my husband said he remembers just seeing big brown wide eyes, then he had his face slashed.

'Then one of them pulled this flick knife from a bum bag and stabbed my grandson and blood was just gushing out.

'And my daughter was shouting "he has been stabbed, he's been stabbed".'

The grandmother said doctors told them their grandson had 'been lucky' and if the blade, which 'nicked his liver', had been a inch to the left or right, he would have died.

However she said he was allowed out of hospital on Friday and is now recovering at home.

The 76-year-old said: 'We are all okay. Hopefully the flashbacks will pass. We are just happy our grandson is home, he is made up and I just hope my husband will be alright.

'They nearly got that vein in his neck, they were only an inch or so away. They are just little rats and something needs to be done to deter them.'

Merseyside Police confirmed on Wednesday that a 13-year-old from Huyton and a 15-year-old from Stockbridge Village had been arrested in connection with an assault on Greystone Road, Broadgreen.

Merseyside Police confirmed on Wednesday that a 13-year-old from Huyton and a 15-year-old from Stockbridge Village had been arrested in connection with an assault on Greystone Road, Broadgreen

Both teenagers were given conditional bail on Thursday. No other arrests have yet been made by police, who continue to appeal for information.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Sephton said: 'An extensive investigation into this incident continues.

'We would continue to appeal to anyone with information to come forward and assist us.

'We know there will be information within the local community which will be invaluable in bringing those involved to justice, and make the streets safer.

'If you have seen or heard anything at the time of the offence or since, let us know.

'Were you passing in a vehicle in the area of Broad Green around 9.15pm on Tuesday, and have dashcam footage, or home CCTV?

'A detail which you think is trivial could be vital to our investigation. Tell us, and we will act on all information given.

'If you are fearful of coming directly to police, please use the charity Crimestoppers, which is anonymous and completely independent of police.'

Anyone with information is urged to contact MerPolCC, 101 with reference number 18200127473 or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.