A 17-YEAR-OLD youth has appeared in court charged in connection with a stabbing incident in Hereford Road, Blackburn, on Wednesday night.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with wounding Barry Smith, 23, who was stabbed in the stomach in the front garden of his home.

He was taken by ambulance to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where he was immediately rushed into emergency theatre where he was operated on for a ruptured spleen and stomach and a slash wound to his hand.

Prosecutor Peter Wild said that following the incident feelings were running high on the Whitebirk estate where the victim lived and the defendant's own safety was one of the reasons for requesting a remand in custody.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said his client had received stab wound injuries at his home address following the incident and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance.

The youth was remanded in custody to appear before the youth court on Tuesday.