Youth stabbed to death on street

A team of detectives have been examining the scene

A murder inquiry is under way after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death during a fight in Greater Manchester.

Police were called to reports of the disturbance in Winton, Salford, on Friday night.

Officers found the teenager in New Lane with serious stab wounds to the stomach. He was taken to Hope Hospital where he died a short time later.

The boy is the second teenager to be stabbed to death in Greater Manchester in the last month.

No-one else was injured in the incident, which happened near a Texaco petrol station at 2300 BST, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

CCTV taken

Officers are trying to trace a man described as white, aged between 18 and 20, between 5ft 6in and 5ft 10in tall, with a slim build. He was clean shaven with short dark hair and was wearing a grey top and black trousers.

Detectives believe there were a number of young people in the area at the time of the attack and they are urged to get in touch.

We have had a few stabbings around here in the last few months Anonymous resident

An attendant at the petrol station between the two crime scenes said police had taken away some CCTV tapes for examination.

Ch Supt Kevin Mulligan, Salford divisional commander, described the death as "tragic".

He said: "I want to reassure the people of Winton that we have a dedicated team of detectives working to catch whoever is responsible for this.

"Fatalities like this are rare in Salford, however, one death is one too many. Tonight a family is mourning the loss of a young life and we are doing our utmost to find whoever did this."

He said uniformed officers would remain in the area for the rest of the weekend to offer reassurance to the community.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said there was often trouble in the area between teenagers walking home from local pubs.

The man, who lives in Florence Street near to the crime scene, described hearing girls screaming at the time of the stabbing.

Another man said: "We have had a few stabbings around here in the last few months. It's not a gang problem but just kids getting drunk, armed with knives, who are getting into arguments.

"You wouldn't think there was a problem during the day but it's a different story at night."

A post-mortem examination is expected to take place later on Saturday.