A MOTHER-OF-SIX last night described how a family friend was knifed in the stomach and lay bleeding on a sofa as her children looked on in horror.

Police launched an attempted murder investigation after Teddy Harrison, 23, was stabbed outside a house in Iffley Road, East Oxford, at about 10pm on Sunday, as a party went on inside.

The householder Melissa Jack said her 10-year-old daughter ran into the house and told her there had been a stabbing on their driveway.

The 32-year-old dragged a bleeding Mr Harrison into her living room and put him on the sofa.

The shaken mum explained how she used a towel to stem the blood seeping from a stab wound under his ribs as she waited for medics to arrive.

Mr Harrison, of Wood Farm, was treated in intensive care on Sunday night, but his condition was last night described as stable.

A 29-year-old man was last night in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Ms Jack said there had been an argument at the house about two and half hours before the stabbing.

She added: “I didn’t know what was going on in the garden as I was inside listening to music. I came into the hallway when I heard my daughter.

“I pulled Teddy into the living room and laid him down on the sofa. I used a towel to put on the bleeding and called the ambulance.

“It seems like a dream. He said ‘have I been stabbed?’ At first I don’t think he realised.

“There was loads of blood. I had to keep tapping him and talking to him to make sure he stayed awake.

“He’s like a big brother to my kids. We want to see him, but when we do we’ll all probably be in tears.”

Police and forensic teams arrived at the house, which is opposite the Co-op on the junction with Addison Crescent.

Thames Valley spokesman Christopher Kearney said an arrest had been made near the scene.

Det Insp Simon Morton, of Oxford CID, said the men were alleged to have been arguing prior to the stabbing during a party at the house.

He added: “I would ask anyone who may have seen anything to come forward and speak with us as soon as possible.”

Some neighbours who heard the fracas were too terrified to give their names. One said: “I thought it was just a little scrap then we saw police, ambulance and forensic teams. It’s scary.”

Another added: “The police are called all the time. There are parties there all the time.”

A neighbour said: “I didn’t hear anything but police ambulances here? That kind of thing is normal anyway.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk