TWO teenagers were seriously injured after being stabbed in separate incidents in Darlington over the weekend.

An 18-year-old man suffered cuts to his arms, chest and stomach after an attack in Lowe Street at about 3am on Saturday.

Hours later, a 19-year-old man was stabbed with a kitchen knife in the back, shoulder and neck, near a children’s play area in Glebe Road.

Police said the two incidents were not linked and reassured residents there has not been a rise in knife crime in Darlington.

A 20-year-old man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the Lowe Street incident, and a 21-year-old man was charged with the same offence for the Glebe Road stabbing.

Both men are due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court today.

Detective Constable Mick Trodder, from Darlington CID, said the 18-year-old victim in Lowe Street, who is now recovering after emergency surgery, was extremely fortunate to survive the attack, which started when a party at a property in Selbourne Terrace spilled outside.

He said: “This was quite a horrific assault and there were a number of pools of blood on the pavement near the address.

“The victim has been very lucky not to have suffered fatal injuries. Fortunately, he has not panicked and did not make his injuries worse by running from the scene.”

Police said the Glebe Road attack, which happened at about 5.30pm on Saturday, was the culmination of an ongoing feud. Detective Constable Neil Stannard said the victim’s injuries were not life-threatening.

He said: “The victim has been stabbed twice to the back, in the shoulder blade area near his neck, and another two times to his shoulder.

“Despite these incidents, we would like to reassure the public we have not experienced a major increase in incidents of knife crime in Darlington.”