A mother of three is fighting for her life after being stabbed outside a midnight church service by a mystery attacker who reportedly fled on a bicycle.

She was wounded in the stomach at about 3:15am last night and is in a critical condition in hospital.

Police cordoned off an area around St Margaret's Church in Ball Hill, Coventry, and detectives were reportedly seen carrying a 'ceremonial sword' during the search.

The area around St Margaret's Church in Ball Hill, Coventry, has been cordoned off by police following the stabbing of a mother of three

The woman was one of about 400 people who attended a service to mark the beginning of Orthodox Easter Sunday.

A man who lives a few doors down from the church reportedly said the victim was Eritrean and was attacked by a man who then escaped on a bicycle.

Amanuel Mebrahtu told The Sun Online: 'This is so unusual. The community is very nice and quiet. We respect each other. People are shocked.'

Forensic teams from West Midlands Police and two ambulances are at the scene, and a large knife or ceremonial sword was taken away, the Coventry Telegraph reported.

A nearby resident told the Coventry Telegraph: 'The doors behind had people going in, it was open at about midnight.

'There were people going into the church. I've never seen that and wondered what was so special to go church at that time.

'I then got woken up about 3am by the sirens and saw the lights of about six police cars.'

St Margaret's Church in Ball Hill, Coventry. The woman, in her 30s, was stabbed in the stomach at 3.15am

The cordoned off area of the church. Police and paramedics attended the scene and detectives scoured the area for evidence after the brutal attack

A statement from West Midlands Police read: 'Officers are investigating a stabbing which occurred at around 3.15am this morning in Coventry.

'Ambulance colleagues alerted police to a woman, thought to be in her 30s, found with a stab wound to her abdomen at St Margaret's Church on Walgrave Road.

A placard on the wall outside the church on Walsgrave Road. Part of the building has been cordoned off as officers investigate

'She was taken to hospital with serious injuries, where she remains in a critical condition.

'Part of the church remains closed this morning while forensic examinations continue.'

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting log 392 of 8 April.

Anonymous information can be given through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Officers and crime scene tape outside the church today. Forensic teams hunted for evidence earlier in the day