FIVE youths have been arrested following a stabbing in St Helens that has left one teenager with a head wound and another with an arm injury.

Two 16-year-old boys from Huyton, a 16-year-old boy from Widnes, and two 18-year-old men from St Helens are in custody after being arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy from Huyton and an and 18-year-old man, who were taken to hospital following the incident with "injuries consistent with a sharp weapon being used" have now been discharged.

The 18-year-old sustained a stab wound to the side of his head and the 16-year-old suffered a stab wound under his arm, following the violence on Lower Hall Street.

Initially, two 16-year-olds, from Huyton and Widnes, had been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Witnesses yesterday reported seeing youths brawling on the street.

Extensive police cordons were put in place.

A number of students, who use the road as a cut through from the technology campus to the town centre, appear to have been interviewed as witnesses.

A mum-of-two described witnessing a "mass brawl" near the scene.

Mandy Prescott was on her way home from town around 4.30pm today, Thursday when she saw the fight break out.

The 41-year-old said: “I was coming home from town going towards Pocket Nook and saw a mass brawl on the bridge with around five groups of lads hitting each other and even going into the road.

“I thought about getting out and stopping them but I couldn’t with the traffic.

“Something must have happened and I saw a group of them run off down Hall Street.

“When I got in my son said his mate who lives on Hall Street thought someone’s been stabbed.

“It’s made me quite scared to be honest and now I think it’s a good job I didn’t stop because if they had weapons I could have been hurt too.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious that could help is asked to contact 101 or you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously and for free on 0800 555111 or via their online form crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online

More to follow