The knife crime epidemic that continues to plague the streets of London showed no sign of slowing yesterday as six stabbings were reported in less than six hours in the capital.

At 3.20pm on Tuesday in Blackheath, south-east London, an 18-year-old man was stabbed in broad daylight in what was described by witnesses as a "targeted attack".

Across town in Hounslow, south-west London another attack was about to take place. At 4.20pm a 26-year-old man was stabbed, and around half an hour later another man, 20, was slashed just yards away.

Police are still trying to establish whether or not the two incidents are linked and were given extra powers to stop and search in the Hounslow Borough until 4am Wednesday morning.

At 6.05pm in Tottenham, north London, a boy who is believed to be 17 was slashed across the face with a knife in the fourth incident of the day.

Less than an hour had passed before Metropolitan Police were dealing with another stabbing, this time in Barking, east London when a 19-year-old was set upon by a gang.

Then, in Tooting High Street, an 18 year-old was found stabbed after officers were called to yet another altercation.