Four teenagers - one aged 13 - have been arrested after a 38-year-old man was repeatedly stabbed during a mass street brawl in Blackbird Leys.

The incident, in Willow Way, happened in broad daylight and eye witnesses described a fight involving more than ten men and women.

The injured man remained in hospital in a serious but stable condition with multiple stab wounds to his back.

It was unclear as the Oxford Mail went to press last night whether his condition was life-threatening.

The incident comes on the back of an alarming rise in knife crime in Britain's cities - and happened just 24-hours after 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot dead in Liverpool.

Although the minimum age for buying knives has been raised from 16 to 18, 12 teenagers have been stabbed to death in London alone this year.

Those arrested in connection with the stabbing in Blackbird Leys included a 13-year-old boy.

An eyewitness said fighting broke out shortly before 7pm and centered on a grassed area in Willow Way, off Knights Road.

Police arrived on the scene at 7.05pm, but one Willow Way resident said it took about ten minutes for officers to break up the fighting and regain control.

Thames Valley Police said 30 officers were involved in the operation including officers from the dog section, CID detectives and scenes of crime specialists.

One officer was injured in the scuffle, suffering bruising to his face.

The cul-de-sac was cordoned off to allow scenes of crimes officers, some with sniffer dogs, to comb the area for evidence.

Last night police confirmed two boys, aged 15 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

They are being held in custody while they are quizzed by detectives.

A 13-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of the same offence.

A fourth youth, aged 16, was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

And another youth, aged 17, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and for possession of an offensive weapon.

He was released on police bail until September 3 pending further inquiries. Det Sgt Russell Simpson, who is leading the investigation, said: "There were many people around during this altercation and we would urge anyone who has not yet spoken to police to contact us."

Police said they had spoken to the victim at his bedside at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Det Sgt Simpson at St Aldates police station, on 08458 505505 or on the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.