A witness to a knifing yesterday described hearing a gang of boys begging their friends to 'stab him' shortly before a teenager was attacked.

Three 16-year-olds, who cannot be named because of a court ban, deny a charge of violent disorder after a man suffered knife wounds following a fight in Dunnock Way in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, last year.

The trio were part of a gang of five teenagers who set upon a 19-year-old in the street, then chased him into a garden, Andrew Morgan, prosecuting, told a trial at Oxford Youth Court.

Sarrah Nurelhuda said she saw the gang arguing with the alleged victim - named in court only as Mr Naseem - as she walked home with her husband from the Spar shop in Dunnock Way.

She told the court: "Two boys went after him and the others interfered, making it five. One brought out a knife or a weapon and we heard the others say 'stab him'.

"They pulled him into a vacant garden and the boy who had the knife was trying to attack the other.

"We were trying to push them apart but they carried on."

Mr Morgan told the court Mr Naseem - who was not present at the trial - defended himself with a wooden board found in the garden and ran away.

"It is the first time I've ever seen something like that, I was very afraid, shivering and shaking," Mrs Nurelhuda added.

None of the three teenagers is charged with stabbing Mr Naseem.

The trial continues.