A man in his late 20s was stabbed in the town centre last night.

Police were called to reports of an altercation in East Street, Barking, at 6.12pm and found a man with “serious” stab wounds to his stomach.

He was rushed to an east London hospital by paramedics with what were originally thought to be life-threatening injuries.

Mihaela Lupu, who works at food shop Magazin Traditional Romanesc in East Street, was on a cigarette break at about 6pm when she witnessed violence opposite McDonald’s.

“I saw two guys fighting, there were a group of about three girls and ten guys in total,” described the 22-year-old.

“I was smoking and saw them fighting with plastic bottles.

“One girl was very angry, she was crying for it to stop. The guys were punching each other, one was stronger than the other.”

Mihaela, who believes the pair were young men in their twenties, lost sight of the fight when the group disappeared down Clockhouse Avenue.

“After they went into the alley I had to go inside as I had lots of customers,” added the East Ham resident. “I thought there were so many people there it wouldn’t be really serious. I thought it would be okay.”

Mihaela shut up shop early after the area was cordoned of by officers.

A spokeswoman for McDonald’s confirmed the incident did not take place on their property and are assisting police with their enquiries.

No arrests have been made.

Did you see what happened? Contact Phoebe Cooke on 020 8477 3886 or phoebe.cooke@archant.co.uk