Shop staff who rushed to the aid of a man who had been slashed across the face say they are shocked by the incident.

Yesterday afternoon police were called to The Broadway, in Stanmore, at 4.45pm by the London Ambulance service after a man believed to be in his 20s had been slashed across the face and arms.

Staff from nearby shops who witnessed this incident and rushed to help the victim say the man pulled up in a car down a side road and got out asking for help.

Witness Kara Lee from Martin Gold Salon Hairdressing said: “He was covered in blood and he was asking me to find a number in phone.

“Then he grabbed my arm said ‘please don’t let me die’.

“I told him I wasn’t going to let that happen and people from the other shops came out and helped. We sat him down and we got him some cloths to put on his arm and face."

Colleague Rebecca Abrey who also helped the man, said: “It was really shocking and disturbing. We can’t believe it happened.”

A member of staff at Cartons Cafe told the Harrow Times: “It was so scary for something like to happen at the end of the day when people are going home.

“There was so much blood and he had a huge gash across his face. So many people came out to help and we just sat him down and waited for the ambulance with him.”

Officers from Harrow police taped off a large part of the high street as they investigated the incident last night.

The victim was taken to a central London hospital by London Ambulance Service where he remains in a stable condition.

His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Police say their enquiries are continuing and no arrests have been made.