The mother of a man stabbed six times fought to stem the bleeding from his wounds.

Jay Henshaw, 28, was knifed outside Hangleton Community Centre in Harmsworth Crescent, Hove, just yards from a children’s play park.

After being stabbed Mr Henshaw staggered to his mother Peggy’s home on the second floor of a block of flats, also in Harmsworth Crescent, where he collapsed bleeding in the doorway.

She acted immediately to stem the tide of blood.

Neighbours said it was Peggy’s quick thinking which saved her son’s life and described the horrific scene of the blood soaked street.

One close neighbour said: “I’ve heard he was stabbed numerous times and managed to get to Peggy’s house where he collapsed in the doorway.

“There were children watching from inside the flat.

“She stemmed the flow of blood and he was rushed to hospital.”

Detective Chief Inspector John Wallace said Mr Henshaw was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he has had emergency surgery and was last night still in a critical condition.

A 32-year-old man had been arrested about half-a-mile way in West Way shortly after the stabbing.

Earl Martin, 32, of Salisbury Road, Hove, was yesterday charged with grievous bodily harm and has been remanded in custody to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today.

Anyone with information about the incident codenamed Operation Hedley should call Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.