Masked gang stabs driver

A gang of masked men stabbed a 26-year-old delivery driver nine times after ambushing him and dragging him from his van on a Shropshire country lane.

The man was attacked in Allscott, near Wellington, beaten with metal poles and stabbed all over his body by the gang who were wearing balaclavas.

The victim from the West Midlands was discovered at 12.40am on Sunday. A person travelling back from Shrewsbury stopped to discover the man in the road between Allscott and Walcot and called paramedics.

The victim, who is a member of the Sikh community, remained at the Princess Royal Hospital this afternoon but is said to have suffered "very serious injuries" with stab wounds to every part of his body, including his arms, legs and abdomen.

The gang fled in a silver Vauxhall Astra which police have since recovered in the West Midlands.

Detective Inspector Jon Elcock today said at least two men were involved in the attack and urged anybody who saw the silver Astra to come forward.

He said: "The driver of the van had delivered newspapers at Admaston Post Office before making his way to his next drop-off in Shrewsbury but as he travelled through the Allscott/Walcot area a car flashed its lights behind him and he pulled over.

"At least two men wearing balaclavas and armed with knives and what the victim described as metal poles got out of the vehicle and attacked the delivery driver.

"He was stabbed and attacked in what was a very serious incident."

A 19-year-old man was arrested in the West Midlands area on Monday on suspicion of wounding. Detectives were granted extra time to quiz the man by magistrates in Telford this afternoon.