Hunt for pub knifemen

A GANG who stabbed and beat two men as they played pool in a pub were being hunted by police last night. Three men went into the St Helier Tavern, in Carshalton, Surrey, where the two victims were playing pool.

In an apparently motiveless attack they stabbed one man with stiletto knives and battered them both round the head and body with the pool cues and a billiard ball.

One of the victims, aged 25, from south-west London, was stabbed eight times. His friend, aged 37 from Carshalton, suffered injuries to his face and head.

They were both taken by ambulance to the nearby St Helier hospital where the stabbing victim underwent emergency surgery. He was later said to be comfortable.

The other man was treated and released.

Police said they were treating it as attempted murder.