Two police officers have been stabbed by a knifeman after they stopped him to check he had paid his bus fare.

The pair were attacked at a bus stop in New Broadway, a busy shopping street in the centre of Ealing, west London.

A police constable suffered a slash wound to his throat and is in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A police community support officer suffered stab wounds to his head as he wrestled with the attacker and was later released from hospital after he was treated for injuries.

The attacker, aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene and has been taken to a west London police station.

Eyewitnesses said the officers, who were wearing stab-proof vests, were part of an operation checking bus tickets.

One officer said the suspect was stopped and when a radio check was made the pair learned he was wanted for recall to prison. The source added that when it became clear he was about to be arrested the man pulled out a knife and attacked the officers.

Another eyewitness said the suspect knifeman had been travelling on a 207 bendy bus which travels between Hayes and White City.

A Met spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have received reports of a police officer and a PCSO having been involved in an incident in the borough of Ealing and having sustained stab wounds.”