A man was stabbed by a group of youths after he shouted at them for throwing snowballs.

The 20-year-old was stabbed in the leg shortly before 4.30pm on Monday, December 21, after getting involved in an argument with a group of at least four teenagers who had been terrorising the Crystal Palace Triangle, pelting shoppers with snow.

After being hit by the teenagers with one of the icy projectiles in Crystal Palace Parade, the victim remonstrated with the group, a member of which stabbed him, then ran off.

Police said they did not know if the victim was specifically targeted for violence by the gang.

The victim returned home to his home in Stoney Lane where an ambulance and police were called. He was taken by London Ambulance Service to a south London hospital with a where he was later discharged.

Police are now hunting the group, who witnesses said also had a dog.

Two of the suspects are described as black men aged about 18.

A resident who was in the area at the time of the attack described how the teens had been "walking through along hitting all the shoppers with really hard snowballs" minutes before the stabbing.

Police said anyone with information about the incident should call 0300 123 1212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.