A MAN was stabbed 15 times in the body and head after confronting a gang throwing stones at his house.

The 22-year-old victim was at home in Kingfisher Drive, Freetown, Bury, when the group, stood outside, started throwing stones at his windows at about 1.30am yesterday.

The man asked them to stop and was hit with a stick, and so went back inside.

The stone throwing continued, so the man went back outside and chased the gang down the street.

"When they reached a footpath at the back of Kingfisher Drive, the group turned on him and he was stabbed 15 times in the body and head. The offenders ran off before police were called," said a Bury Police spokesman.

The victim was taken to hospital where he is currently in a 'serious but stable' condition.

Police have arrested two 15-year-old boys, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder and they are still being questioned.

Detective Sergeant Lawrence Dixon, of Bury Police, said: "His injuries are serious and he is lucky to be alive.

“Due to the severity of this attack, we are treating it as attempted murder and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact us.

"Although we have made arrests, we are still investigating and asking for information.

“Obviously the local community will be deeply upset by what has happened but we have stepped up patrols in the area and are dedicated to finding out who is responsible.”

Call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with information.