Teenager stabbed 'up to 30 times'

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A 14-year-old girl who is in a critical condition after a "frenzied" knife attack may have been stabbed up to 30 times, it has been revealed.

Jessica Knight was found "covered in blood" after the unprovoked attack in Astley Park, Chorley, Lancashire on Monday afternoon.

Police have warned people to take precautions until the attacker has been caught.

The teenager is now "stable" after having five hours of surgery.

Police said people heard screams and at 1714 GMT a cyclist found Jessica unconscious and bleeding near Astley Hall, about 80m (262ft) from Hallgate Road.

She received first aid at the scene before she was taken to Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.

Simon Corlson, 52, a project manager, assisted her.

This is a particularly nasty assault on a defenceless young girl Det Supt Steve Brunskill

He said: "A policeman told me later that she'd been stabbed 30 times.

"But I only saw two of the wounds - one to her cheek, the other to her neck, pumping blood."

Police said the attack was "frenzied" and have cordoned off a large area of the park, which is a thoroughfare.

It is set in Astley Village, an affluent area north of Chorley which has council offices on one side and sheltered housing on the other.

Det Supt Steve Brunskill, of Lancashire Police, said: "This is a particularly nasty assault on a defenceless young girl.

"I can't think of any motive. Until we find whoever is responsible, people should be cautious.

"The circumstances of it are we think it's a random attack.

"The family are very distressed. As far as we are aware, this is a perfectly normal, happy child.

"It's mind-boggling how this can occur in this area."

We hope and pray she will recover soon Jean McGrath, head teacher Parklands High School

Extra officers, including mounted police, are currently on patrol in the area.

Police will also be visiting schools, and a mobile police station will be set up.

Jessica was wearing a black hooded jacket with fur lining, blue jeans and white trainers when she was attacked.

Jean McGrath, head of Parklands High School in Chorley, said: "Jessica is a lovely, hard working girl.

"We hope and pray she will recover soon."

Local resident Duggy Hope said: "This is very rare. We have never seen anything like this before."

He said locals had been petitioning to have the path lit up.

"They were going to put lighting up through the park but Chorley council knocked it back. There's a petition up about it."

Laura Lennox, a councillor with Astley Parish Council, said: "It's not a path I would use on my own at night.

"It is very tragic that this should happen."