Residents nearby to where a man was robbed during a robbery said he screamed for help.

Police were called to the Alyssum Walk and Cooper Walk area of Greenstead in Colchester at 6pm on Saturday by the ambulance service after reports a 21-year-old man had been stabbed.

The man was assaulted by two men, who took cash and a mobile phone from the victim, before stabbing him.

A third male held a woman who was with the victim. The suspects ran off down Alyssum Walk and left in a white vehicle.

The injured man is thought to have made his way to Corry Court off Hickory Avenue where he managed to get the attention of residents.

He was later taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Leanne Carter said: “We heard him screaming ‘help someone help me’ from our flat, so my partner went outside and saw a man with his face covered in blood.

“The lady who helped him initially thought he had had acid thrown in his face but it turned out that he’d been stabbed.”

Concerned residents posting on Facebook said the man banged on the communal door of the flats so hard he smashed the glass.

Posting on the Crimewatch/Community Colchester Facebook page, one woman said: “I am the person that helped the young boy and his partner.

“At the time I didn’t even think, it was natural instinct to do as much as you can when someone was screaming for help and I just tried to keep the lad and his girlfriend as calm and comfortable as possible.

“They left in the ambulance and he was alert and talking.

“The area was cordoned off because it’s classed as a crime scene but I have spoken to the police and nothing has been found so far.

“It was a very scary experience, which could of been so much worse.”

Another said: “What is happening to this town.

“Thoughts are with the young lads family and hoping he makes a full recovery soon.”

Another resident added: “How terrible. Hope the poor lad is ok.”

One suspect was described by the victim as a short black man aged in his late-teens to early 20s with short black hair. He was wearing a grey jumper.

The second suspect was described by the victim as a tall black man, aged in his late-teens to early 20s.

He was wearing a grey and black North Face jacket.

Witnesses or anyone who saw men matching the descriptions in the area at the time are asked to contact Colchester CID on 101 quoting incident 922 of October 21. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.