Children were playing in the street as a man was stabbed in the neck and head in Blackbird Leys, Oxford.

Ten-year-old Merlin Hardisty, who saw the aftermath of the stabbing, pictured with his father ScottChildren and residents looked on horrified as the 26-year-old victim staggered along Warburg Crescent and collapsed after the attack at about 8pm on Tuesday.

Parents pulled their children into their homes after the man was stabbed yards from where they were playing in the cul-de-sac.

Police are treating the stabbing as attempted murder and said it was not a random attack. No arrests have been made.

Neighbours rushed to the aid of the stabbed man, who has not been named but lives in Blackbird Leys, and he remains in a critical condition at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. His family were at his bedside.

One 10-year-old boy yesterday told the Oxford Mail he saw the immediate aftermath of the stabbing almost on his doorstep.

Merlin Hardisty, a pupil at Pegasus School, in Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, said: "I saw a man being chased by another man waving a snooker cue up the alleyway which leads to Cuddesdon Way.

"I could see blood all over the road. The police were here within five minutes and spent about an hour interviewing me."

The mother of a six-year-old girl who was playing with friends in Warburg Crescent, said the victim was stabbed while children looked on.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "My six-year-old girl was in the car port. My friend went outside and she came running in pushing the children inside the building saying there was a man outside pouring with blood.

"All the children were playing out there in that car port when the stabbing happened.

"There were so many people playing out there you can't put a number on it. There were teenagers out there on bikes as well.

"As a mother, it frightened me stupid. Now I really don't feel confident letting my children outside and my daughter was so frightened she kept saying the man was going back to get her."

Another Warburg Crescent resident, who would only give his first name, Goao, said: "I was inside the house when I heard shouts. I came out and there was this man lying in the road. There was lots of blood right here in the road.

"The man then got up and staggered off about 30 metres before he collapsed again."

Det Insp Rebecca Mears said: "This incident is being treated as attempted murder. There will be house-to-house inquiries and we are returning to search the scene and are appealing for witnesses."

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505.