A man was left seriously injured after being stabbed and mugged for his phone while walking along a canal path in Newham.

The 35-year-old victim was approached by the two men as he walked along a canal path that runs between Stratford High Street/Bow Flyover and Greenway on January 5 at around 8.15pm.

The victim felt someone nudge him and was confronted by the two men who demanded that he give them his phone.

He refused and began backing away but was stabbed a number of times, Scotland Yard said.

The suspects ran off with the victim's phone leaving him seriously injured.

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He was taken by the London Ambulance Service to an east London hospital where his condition was initially deemed life-threatening, but he is now expected to recover.

Det Con John Kalinzi, of the Met's North East Command, said: “We know that there were a number of people cycling and walking besides the canal at the time of this incident.

“I am very keen to hear from anyone who has any information but has not yet spoken with police. It is vital that we identify these suspects who were ready to inflict potentially fatal injuries to steal a mobile phone.

“If you can help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 6364/05JAN.

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.