A 14-year-old girl has been stabbed outside a secondary school in the Black Country .

Chloe West was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital after the attack outside Ridgewood High School in Stourbridge, where she received several stab wounds to her upper body.

Police said she was under going surgery but was stable and here injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.


West Midlands Police said an 18-year-old was arrested at the scene.

Speaking to the media near the scene of the incident, Superintendent Stuart Johnson praised the bravery of the school staff, students and parents who stepped in to halt the attack.

He told reporters: "I would just like to pay tribute to the very brave individuals who, without too much thought for their own safety, intervened at the time of the incident this morning.

"They showed tremendous bravery in intervening and actually detaining the suspect.

"In my opinion - based on medical evidence - they clearly prevented far more serious injuries to Chloe."

Officers were called to reports of a girl being stabbed near the school's main gates at 8.42am and were at the scene within minutes.

Mr Johnson said: "On arrival, they saw that there was indeed a young lady, who we since know to be a pupil at the school, with serious injuries, believed to be knife wounds.

"They also found that a young man, who we have since established does not attend the school, had been detained by members of the public here in the street."

The man, who is known to have suffered injuries to his hands, was taken into custody and is helping police with their inquiries.

In a short statement, the school's headteacher Clive Nutting said the specialist science college was closed for the day and the attack was in the hands of police.

After meeting Mr Nutting, Mr Johnson said: "I have just met with the headmaster and some of his senior staff here at the school, who are clearly looking after the welfare issues that you would expect to be part of an incident like this.

"They are at pains to stress that the school will be open as normal on Monday."

The attack happened near semi-detached houses in Park Road West, a cul-de-sac which leads to the school, as Chloe walked along the pavement with a friend.

Witnesses claimed the attacker arrived at the scene in a vehicle which had been driven up the road at high speed.

Asked whether the victim had been in a relationship with the man who was arrested, Mr Johnson replied: "We've certainly received information this morning that the two people involved know each other.

"Whether that formed the basis of a relationship or not, certainly the indications are that they knew each other in the past."

Mr Johnson said the incident was not directly linked to the "life of the school" and, although several pupils were witnesses, it did not take place on school premises.

"I understand there were a number of pupils arriving for school this morning, who witnessed the incident," the officer went on.

"Clearly that would be traumatic for them and the education authority will be looking after their interests."

Local Conservative councillor Margaret Cowell, who lives around 70 yards from the scene of the stabbing, said she knew nothing of the incident until she saw a police car speeding up the road with its sirens sounding.

"In 50 years of living up here I have never seen a police car come past with its sirens going," the 70-year-old said. "I really can't believe what has happened."