A SECURITY guard was stabbed twice in his back after telling a man to leave a youth hostel.

Paul McCarthy, 43, was attacked at about 11.15pm last Wednesday at the YMCA in Clayton Road, Hayes, and was taken to Hillingdon Hospital where he is still recovering.

Gregory Smith, 23, of Fairholme Crescent, Hayes, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court charged with attempted murder and has been remanded in custody until his trial begins at the Old Bailey on February 13.

Clare Scott Booth, chief executive for YMCA west London, said: "The incident happened when somebody from outside the YMCA came into the building and our night manager asked him to leave.

"Our thoughts are with Mr McCarthy and his family and we understand he is making a good recovery."

"We have a good security system but all the security systems in the world can't prevent this. He was a man doing his job to help young people in the community and we are very sad this incident happened."