A MAN was stabbed in the stomach after fighting off two machete-wielding attackers who forced their way into his house on Sunday.

The two thugs, who were black, forced their way into the residence in Lenthall Avenue, Grays, at 10pm and demanded cash.

The two men inside the house fought off the attackers, but one, aged 31, suffered a cut to the forehead as he wrestled the machete free from an attacker.

Upstairs a woman and her four-year old child were hiding.

They were not found or hurt.

As the two burglars fled the property empty-handed, the the other attacker used his blade to lunge at the same man and slice open his stomach.

The 31-year-old is in Basildon Hospital in a “stable condition”.

Police said the injuries to his forehead and stomach were not thought to be life-threatening.

The other man was not hurt.

Police are appealing for information after the aggravated burglary.

Det Insp Natalia Ross, said: “This was a nasty attack and the victim has been lucky the injuries were not more serious.

“He has not needed surgery and is stable in hospital with a single stab wound to the lower abdomen, which needed stitches.

“We believe this is an isolated incident and may have been a targeted attack – we are working to establish a motive.”

Neighbours reacted with shock. Rita Barnett, 58, said: “People around here are scared to go out.” Her husband John, 58, added: “We have lived here all our lives and it didn’t used to be like this.”

Geoffrey Leo, 67, added: “It’s a cause for concern.

Spencer Beck, 17, said: “Things like this happen around Grays now. It’s a shame.”

Call Det Con Vicki Bazzoni at Grays CID on 101.