Shocked neighbours have called for more to be done to protect young people after a second teenager was stabbed in just over a week.

The latest stabbing was in an alleyway connecting Heathfield South and Craneford Way, just yards from Richmond College.

Police said the victim, who was stabbed this afternoon and is now in a stable condition in hospital, was a student at Richmond College.

Scott Gill, who lives near the college, said: “If it happens once it is bad enough, but twice in a few days is scary.

“Something needs to be done to stop these kids killing each other.”

Lynton Nicholson, who lives next to the alleyway, said police had been in to search his garden to see if a weapon had been thrown over the fence, but found nothing.

The 60-year-old said: “This is quite a nice area really and there is not much violence.

“I’m up and down that alley all day and night, is this going to make me change that? Probably not.”

A 45-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said if crime was on the rise police needed to step up patrols.

She said: “As a resident it is definitely worrying that this seems to be on the up.

“I know mums with children around here who would be nervous about their kids playing out.

“If this sort of thing is going to happen then police and community support should up their presence.”