A man in his 30s was stabbed and robbed as he made his way home near Perivale Station just after midnight.

The 32-year-old victim was approached by two black men in the alley way leading from Central Ealing Sports Ground to Scorton Avenue, where they demanded his belongings.

He was stabbed before the suspects went through his pockets and made off with his property.

The two thugs, described as in their late teens to early twenties made their way towards Perivale Station and one suspect may have had a bicycle.

John Mullane, chairman of the Perivale safer neighbourhood team ward forum, said: "I'm shocked that a stabbing could happen in our area at all but if it was going to happen anywhere I'm not surprised it happened there.

"The whole area can be very intimidating and residents have been complaining about it for some time.

"It is a concern and something we will pursue through the forum with more vigour."

This stabbing comes just months after a police crime expert raised concerns over the safety of the dimly-lit haven for muggers.

Nadia Head of Barmouth Avenue told the Gazette in February the alley linking Horsenden Lane South to Scorton Avenue has been a problem for more than a decade.

At the time, the 48-year-old said: "The lighting is so poor that if you're standing at one end of the path you can't see clearly down to the other.

"Anyone could be hiding around the corner or behind trees.

"Its the only direct way home otherwise you have to go all the way round the A40 and I'm forced to pay £10 for a taxi home from Ealing Broadway."

Police and ambulance arrived at the scene just before 12:30am on Thursday and the victim was taken to a local hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

Yesterday morning police forensic teams combed the area for clues.

Anyone with information should contact Ealing CID on 020 8721 7045 or call anonymously Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.