Three boys have been arrested as part of an investigation into a hate crime after a woman was stabbed.

Armed response units attended Norton Road in Stockton shortly before 6pm yesterday evening, Tuesday, July 3, following reports of an assault by a group of teenagers with a bladed weapon.

Officers at the scene found the victim, who is in her 20s, with a deep wound to her leg.

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She was taken to hospital and is undergoing surgery.

Three boys, aged 16, 14 and 12, were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and taken to police custody for questioning.

Police are treating this incident as a hate crime and appealing for witnesses or anyone with CCTV, dash cam or doorbell footage to call 101, quoting reference number 124844.