A TEENAGER was taken to hospital after being stabbed in the buttocks.

Policing are appealing for information about the stabbing in London Road, Brighton, on Friday evening.

The 17-year-old, from Brighton, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital with wounds to the buttocks.

His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Officers were called to the scene, close to the junction with York Hill, shortly after 8pm but were unable to find the knifeman.

Eyewitnesses told of several police cars with officers running along London Road looking for the attacker as paramedics tended to the teenager.

Darren Corr, from Brighton, was in McDonald’s in London Road with friends at the time.

He said: “I came out and it was as like a scene from CSI.

“It’s getting worse in London Road.

“I used to do security around Brighton and London Road is the worst spot for violent crimes in the city.

“There are regular fights between teenagers and violent assaults.

“It is the second incident of knife crime I’ve witnessed in just under three months.

“It’s getting worrying down London Road. I feel like security and police need to look at some way of ensuring the safety of the citizens around these hotspots for crime.”

In a separate incident a few hours later a man was arrest on suspicion of carrying a machete near The Level.

Officers were called to London Road, Brighton, at 11.45pm.

On arrival they were directed to The Level where a man was arrested.

Carlo Gosden, 21, unemployed, of no fixed abode, has been charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He is due to appear before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday October 26.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the earlier stabbing to come forward.

A force spokesman said : “Anyone with any information is asked to report it online at sussex.police.uk/appealresponse.

“You can also call 101 quoting serial 1334 of 06/10.

“Alternatively, you can visit the Crimestoppers website at crimestoppers-uk.org or you can contact the independent charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.”