A kindly couple who stopped to check a girl riding the night bus in Chiswick was alright were attacked by the cowardly teens who had been bothering her.

The 35-year-old man was stabbed in the cheek and side by a mixed race man, aged around 18, just after stepping off the N9 bus at Chiswick High Road on Saturday at around 2am.

The knife-weilding attacker was with a group of young black men, all wearing dark clothing, who had approached the girl on the top deck of the bus after
boarding in Hammersmith.

As she stepped off the bus the victim's girlfriend asked if she was okay, infuriating the suspect who then pulled out a knife and attacked her boyfriend, who suffered a collapsed lung. He has now been sent home from hospital.

Det Insp Kam Sahi, of Hounslow CID, said: "The attack was completely unprovoked and could have had serious consequences. Knife crime is a Metropolitan and Hounslow police priority, the scene of the assault was attended and dealt with promptly.

"Enquiries are ongoing and we would like to speak to the lone female as a matter of urgency."

If you are the female described, a passenger from that bus or another witness to the incident please call Hounslow CID on 020 8247 6160 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.