SHOPKEEPERS spoke of their shock at the stabbing in Beckenham High Street this morning.

A man, known locally as "Alan", was injured during a robbery at the Gold Shop where he works.

Eyewitnesses reported him running into the barbers shop next door, Hak's Barbers, and asking for an ambulance.

It is thought he sat at the back of the shop and staff gave him a towel to stop the bleeding while he waited.

Police were called to the scene at 10.51 today.

A police spokesman confirmed a 24-year old man was taken to Mayday Hospital with stab wounds on his leg.

His injury was not deemed to be life threatening or life changing.

An iPhone and £500 were taken from the shop.

Manuel Chowdhury, 26, works in a clothing shop opposite and heard the commotion.

He said: "I saw lots of police and then the guy being stretchered off into an ambulance."

Bruce Jones works in a nearby shop, Horton's Fresh Fish, and said he only found out what had happened when he saw the police cars outside.

Mr Jones, 19, said: "I came back from getting my lunch and there was an ambulance, two police cars and a police van."

The police cordoned off the pedestrian area by the shop for a few hours but removed the police around 1pm.

Chris Manning, 45, has delivered papers to the Gold Shop for the last year and said he has spoken to Alan on a number of occasions.

He said: "He always smiles and says hello and is generally a very friendly guy. I'm glad he's ok."

The suspect has been described as a very dark skinned black man, aged around 25, 5ft10ins tall and slim.

He wore a black t-shirt, dark trousers and an Adidas hoodie.

Call Bromley Police CID on 020 8284 8859 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55511 with information.