A father of three is recovering in hospital after being stabbed on his doorstep as he tried to protect his son from a gang.

Andrew Gayfer, 46, is in Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, following the attack in the early hours of yesterday.

His wife Deborah says the fire alarm engineer is in a lot of pain, but is conscious.

Mr Gayfer was stabbed several times around 3am as he battled to protect his 17-year-old son Alex.

According to Mrs Gayfer, 44, Alex was chased as he returned to his home in Colt Stead, New Ash Green.

He had been to see his friend Kevin Needham, 16, who lives nearby and had recently returned from holiday.

They met up just behind Kevin's house and were approached by a gang.

The gang started to taunt Alex and Kevin was attacked.

Kevin rushed into his house for safety as Alex bolted to his, with the gang in pursuit.

Alex managed to get inside the family home but the gang smashed the glass in the front door, with one of the attackers severing the arteries in his arms.

As they continued to kick and bang on the front door, Mr Gayfer ran outside and grabbed one of the offenders.

One of the other members of the gang then stabbed him in the back, arm and abdomen.

He then staggered back into his house and collapsed in the hallway.

Mrs Gayfer called an ambulance which took her husband to Darent Valley.

The full-time carer said: "I am still stiff with shock. It's surreal; you see this sort of thing on the television but you don't think it will happen to you.

"For the children to see their father like that is terrible.

"I think they were on drink and drugs, we are only guessing, but Alex said he could smell drink on them and that they looked spaced out'."

She was also told by hospital staff that if the weapon used in the attack was longer, her husband's injuries would have been a lot more severe.

The bleeding attacker left a trail of blood as he fled, which police dogs later followed to find where they went.

She added: "You don't think this kind of thing would happen in this village.

"You might expect it in London or somewhere else, but not here."

Kevin Needham's mother, Shirley, 46, also lives in Colt Stead and said: "They hadn't seen each other for a week and they are mates, so they met to catch up.

"You do get some trouble around here but the younger ones just cause noise nuisance.

"Some of the older ones can be quite nasty."

Police later arrested four men, aged 18, 19, 20 and 21, in connection with the incident.

The men, who are all from New Ash Green, have been released on police bail as further inquiries are carried out.

Anyone with information should call north Kent police on 01474 565075 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.