The family of an Oxford man who was stabbed when he intervened in a fight have criticised the police's handling of the incident.

Relatives of builder Roy Sinclair said police officers had left them in the dark over his stabbing in Blackbird Leys on Thursday evening.

Jamaican Mr Sinclair was knifed twice when he stepped in to a brawl outside his home in Windrush Tower, Blackbird Leys Road.

The 38-year-old suffered major injuries to his lung and kidney and remains in a stable condition in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington.

His sister and niece, who live on the estate but were too scared of reprisals to be named, said they did not know what was going on with the case because the police had not spoken to the family since Frida.

Mr Sinclair's niece said she only found out through the Oxford Mail that four suspects had been bailed. She added: "I have not heard anything from the police. It is like the police will only do something when there is someone 6ft under.

"Blackbird Leys is a dangerous place. I feel unsafe because there are no police around when you need them."

Mr Sinclair's sister said: "The police do not say anything to us. I cried for two days after it happened. I do not sleep. I do not eat. I am stressed because it is my brother and I love my brother."

On Friday, youth group Leys CDI contacted the police to ask for more officers on the estate because of the heightened tension in the area.

But neighbours said they had not seen any more officers on the beat and have also questioned why police are refusing to offer any public reassurance to the estate.

One worker at a shop next to the site of the stabbing said: "I have not seen any police at all. I have been doing long shifts the past three days and I know for a fact there has not been any police about."

David Lamin, 19, from Pegasus Road, said: "I have not seen more police around. I think it would be good if they released a statement to tell us what is going on and what they are going to do to prevent things like this in the future."

James Beal, 19, from Sandy Lane, said: "More police should be out and about. There have been a few PCSOs about but they cannot do anything - they can only sit there and watch if something happens."

A police spokesman refuted the criticisms. He said: "We have been in regular contact with the family, including the victim. The victim was seen in hospital on Sunday.

"There has been a high police presence and the area has been resourced in line with the incident."

Two 16-year-old boys and two more aged 15 and 13 who were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent have been bailed until September 21. A 17-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and for possession of an offensive weapon is due to answer bail on Monday.