A SENIOR police officer says Worcester is still a safe place to live and work after two teenagers were slashed with a knife in a bloody attack.

Temporary Inspector Peter Nightingale has reassured the public that such assaults as 'extremely rare' but has also reminded shop staff of their obligations when it comes to the sale of knives in a bid to keep the streets of Worcester as safe as possible.

T/Insp Nightingale makes his comments after two teenagers were injured in an alleged attack in Quay Street on Friday, an incident which has caused widespread shock in the city.

His remarks also follow a high profile amnesty to get as many blades as possible off our streets and attempts by police in Worcester to educate young people about the dangers of knives.

As previously reported, a 16-year-old boy appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Monday where he faced two charges of section 18 wounding with intent, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis. He was remanded in custody and is next scheduled to appear at crown court on July 5. No further action will be taken against a second teenager.

Police previously revealed that the two alleged victims, both aged 18, received facial wounds from knife cuts in the incident at around 9pm on Friday night.

They have been in hospital receiving treatment on what police describe as "potentially life changing injuries".

The West Mercia Police officer said: "We are dedicated to tackling violent crime and specifically incidents involving knives. Please be reassured by the prompt police response and positive action taken in the most recent incident in Worcester. A male has been charged and will appear in court.

"We understand the community concerns following the incident but West Mercia remains a safe place to work and live and incidents of this nature are extremely rare.

"We are working closely with partners and involving local education establishments to educate and reassure the community. I would also like to remind retail outlets of their legal obligations around the sale of knives and police will take enforcement action when appropriate. We will continue to target any hotspots with high visibility patrols."

However, concerns about knife crime remain in the public eye, including the risks officers themselves face in the line of duty.

A Worcester officer, DC Jason Atkins, rugby-tackled County Lines drug dealer Omari Edwards, who was armed with a knife, in the city on March 23 this year, bringing him to the ground.

It was an act of courage and decisiveness which earned DC Atkins the praise of the Worcester judge who jailed Edwards.

The 24-year-old defendant had £11,770 of class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) in his possession and a lock knife.

He was jailed for four years and nine months last month at Worcester Crown Court for possession with intent to supply, possession of the knife, possession of cannabis, resisting an officer in the execution of their duties and possession of criminal property.

T/Insp Nightingale said he would welcome any information or intelligence from the public in relation to anyone who habitually carries knives.

He added: "That information will be treated with the strictest of confidence. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. Where information allows, we will actively target individuals believed to carry weapons using police powers effectively and appropriately to protect the public from harm."