Armed youths gatecrashed a teenage girl’s birthday party and stabbed a 24-year-old man who tried to stop them, it is claimed.

Police were called to a house in Nottingham Road in south Croydon on Saturday night after violence broke out at the party.

The Met Police said the man was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Peter Holness, the victim’s brother, told the Croydon Guardian: “Some of the uninvited children got rowdy and started to push and shove the way through the door making a noise [and] acting in a disrespectful manner.

"A gang of kids rushed through the door and [stabbed] my brother five times.”

Mr Holness said the youths, reportedly armed with knives and bats, were aged between 12 and 17.

Anyone with information should call police on 020 7109 8622 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.