DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after a teenager was chased and suffered a minor stab wound.

The 16-year-old from Braintree was walking along First Avenue in Chelmsford just after 1pm on Saturday May 27 when someone shouted out from behind him.

When he turned around, he saw about eight men get out of two black Volkswagen Golfs or Polos.

They ran after him and one of the suspects stabbed him with a knife, causing a minor wound to his back.

He also suffered minor bruising.

He managed to run away from the suspects and get home. He was then taken to hospital for treatment, before the incident was reported to police.

Five of the suspects were white men, three were black and all were aged between 20 and 25.

Detective Sergeant Phil Greaves, of Chelmsford CID, said: “This happened on a Saturday afternoon in a residential area and there may well have been people at home or in the area at the time who saw what happened or the group involved.”

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Dc Luke Baldwin at Chelmsford CID on 101.

Alternatively, contact independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.