Teenage knife gang hunted

A 16-year-old boy was hunted down and stabbed to death by a gang of teenagers in broad daylight.

Ashley Hedger was punched, kicked and repeatedly stabbed in the head by seven Asian youths then left for dead in a shop doorway.

The killing, which happened in a busy street near West Ham's football ground in east London, has shocked police.

One shopkeeper described how the attack on Ashley was so ferocious it left him "shaking with fear".

Another, who had known the Barnardo's boy for several years, said he could not understand why he had been murdered - describing him as a popular youngster who did not get into trouble. Police today appealed for help to find the killers.

The murder highlights the growing use of knives by teenage gangs in London.

Today an Evening Standard survey reveals the rise in youth crime and the growing concerns about teenagers carrying knives. The murder of Ashley happened on Friday lunchtime.

Police have so far recovered the knife used to kill him but have not made any arrests.

Detective Superintendent Maureen Boyle, who is leading the murder investigation, said: "This was a dreadful attack. This happened in broad daylight on a main thoroughfare."