Friends of one of the five people injured in a knife attack which left actor Robert Knox dead has told how teenage gangs were "ruining their lives".

Andrew Dormer, 16, was stabbed in the chest during the ferocious assault which claimed the life of the 18-year-old Harry Potter actor. Mr Dormer, the son of a church warden, had been with another four victims, Dean Saunders, Nicky Lee Jones, Charlie Grimley and Tom Hopkins - all aged between 16 and 21 - when a fight broke out outside the Metro Bar in Sidcup on Saturday.

Today family friends said youth gangs were running riot in the town and police were struggling to contain an upsurge in violence. The attacks include an 18-year-old suffering a broken arm after being hit with a brick outside a house party in December last year, gangs of youths fighting with baseball bats in the town centre in January, and a pub manager being stabbed and robbed as he carried takings to the bank on Main Road yesterday.

Bexley Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Tony Dawson insisted Bexley was not a hotspot, but said highvisibility patrols were being increased.

Father-of-three Peter Hewish, who works with Mr Dormer's mother Penelope-at St James the Great church in Blendon, said: "Three weeks ago a gang of about 13 yobs attacked a member of my staff at my estate agent's on the high street. They were all aged about 15 or 16 and were abusive, shouting and swearing. I called the police - but no one turned up for two and a half hours. These yobs are ruining our lives and it is getting worse."

Mother-of-three Frances Streete told a meeting organised by police community support officers yesterday: "People are angry. Even my 18-year-old son wants stop and search brought in."

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