FOUR people were seriously injured and a pensioner was attacked on her doorstep during a weekend of violence in East Lancashire.

Detectives in Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington were today investigating five separate incidents which left four people in hospital with serious injuries and a 73-year-old pensioner with cuts and bruises to her face.

A 15-year-old boy was stabbed following an incident in Allerton Close, Darwen, at 10.55pm on Friday.

He was taken to Blackburn Infirmary and underwent emergency surgery to remove a knife.

The youth, who has not been named but who is from the Darwen area, remained comfortable in hospital today.

A 16-year-old boy, also from Darwen, has been charged with malicious wounding and was due to before Blackburn magistrates today.

A second Darwen youth suffered serious head injuries in an incident in the town on Saturday night.

The boy, also 15, remained very poorly in Blackburn Infirmary today after being chased down a dead end and assaulted by three men at 10.40pm.

Inspector Tony Harling, of Blackburn CID, said the incident followed an argument between three Asian men travelling in a silver Mercedes convertible and six local youths in Turncroft Road. He said the boy was chased close to Cross Barn Grove and attacked.

A 41-year-old Accrington woman remained in hospital today following an incident at a house in Huncoat on Saturday night.

She is recovering from serious head and facial injuries in Blackburn Infirmary.

A 40-year-old man was due to appear before Hyndburn magistrates today charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Two Accrington teenagers aged 17 and 19 were also due to appear before Hyndburn magistrates after an incident in Willows Lane at 4.45am on Saturday left a 20-year-old man in hospital with serious head and facial injuries.

The two men are charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Police are also investigating an assault on a 73-year-old woman in Barley Close, Blackburn, at 10.45am on Friday.

The woman was walking home from town when a woman pushed her to the ground and stole her handbag and purse containing £100. The assailant is described as about 5ft 5ins tall, aged between 30 and 35 with dark hair and wearing Asian dress.

The pensioner suffered cuts and bruises to her face in the incident.

Anyone with any information can contact police at Blackburn on 01254 51212, Accrington on 01254 382141 or Darwen on 01254 701777.

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