An off-duty police officer is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in  Ladywell.

The City of London officer remains in a stable condition in hospital after fighting off armed moped thieves on Saturday.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the victim continued to try and stop the robbery, despite being stabbed with a "large kitchen knife". The suspects later made off without the moped.

Scotland Yard said the officer, 37, sprang into action when he saw a group of four men on mopeds attempting to steal another moped from a 21-year-old man in Malyons Road.

The suspects were armed with a large kitchen knife, but the unarmed officer intervened.

The spokesman said: "During the confrontation the officer was stabbed in the leg, but despite this, he continued to confront the four suspects thwarting the theft of the moped until the suspects fled the scene.

"The officer was taken to a south London hospital where his injuries were described as not life-threatening or life-changing."

The 21-year-old victim of the attempted theft was also assaulted by suspects and suffered bruising. His injuries are not life threatening.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.