A brave market stall owner risked his own life to follow a knifeman after a chicken shop employee was stabbed at work.

A 35-year-old man has been left in a serious condition after he was attacked while working behind the counter at KFC in Stratford Broadway at about 5pm on Friday.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital suffering from severe abdominal injuries. They are not believed to be life threatening.

Monjurul Hoque, 47, who owns a jewellery stall close to the chicken shop immediately left his customers to follow the suspect after he had fled the scene.

He told the Recorder: “It all happened quite fast but all of a sudden I had heard a scream so I stopped what I was doing to see what happened.

“I just saw all the people eating in the restaurant rushing out and a few moments later I saw this guy come out with a knife that was full of blood.”

Dad-of-one Mr Hoque, from Stratford, said the man seemed “calm” despite a crowd gathering.

He said: “There were quite a few spectators but the guy just walked out, he did not rush, he just walked out.

“He still had the knife in his hand, it was massive.”

This is when Mr Hoque made the quick decision to follow the suspect.

He said: “I didn’t really think, I just thought if he disappears, it will be difficult for the police to find him so I decided to follow.

“I lost him near Victoria Street because the traffic was slow. I’m pretty sure he knew I was behind him because he scraped his knife across a bin and I think it was a signal to stop following him.”

On the way back to his stall, Mr Hoque stopped a passing police van and directed them in the direction of the thug.

He added: “I hope the victim is ok. It was very scary.”

A KFC spokeswoman said: “We are shocked and saddened by this terrible incident and we are doing everything we can to support our employee and his family, as well as assisting the police in their investigations.”

No arrests have been made. Investigations are ongoing.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.