A TEENAGE girl is in a serious condition after being stabbed in the back as she stepped off a bus.

The 16-year-old was also knifed in the stomach on King Henry's Drive, New Addington, at around 7.30pm on Monday evening.

Police believe she was attacked by another girl.

According to residents who live next to the bus stop where the attack occurred, police cordoned off the road between Redstart Close and Calley Down Crescent.

The victim was rushed to hospital where she remained in a serious but stable condition as the Advertiser went to press.

Resident Jim Barnes said: "I heard screaming but I didn't do anything because girls are always screaming.

"It's like the boy who cried wolf – I think I'm immune to hearing those noises now.

"At that time of night when it's still so light you just don't think anything like that would happen.

"This street is normally so quiet – we don't get many incidents like this."

Another resident said: "I heard the girl was getting off the bus when it happened.

"I wasn't in but my daughter heard a lot of commotion and screaming and shouting.

"I know New Addington doesn't have the best reputation but we don't normally have any trouble like this.

"It's not the first time my daughter's been around knife crime, though – she saw someone else get stabbed on a bus going through Fieldway in January."

And Eileen Bristow, 81, added: "I was too scared to go outside and see what was going on.

"I'm so shocked to hear it was a girl and you hardly ever hear of anyone getting stabbed in the back.

"We never had any violence up here when I moved in – to know it was right on my doorstep is really scary.

"I don't feel safe going out any more – that's what's upsetting us all."

A police spokeswoman confirmed that the girl was being treated in a south London hospital.

She added: "Officers from Croydon CID will be investigating the incident."

Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.