'It's normally so peaceful here, I couldn't believe it when I opened the curtains this morning'

Residents in a usually 'peaceful' corner of north Manchester say they are waiting for life to return to normal following an evening of extreme violence.

Most days, Ardern Road's well-kempt hedges and neatly paved drives show off a quieter part of the city. This morning (November 7), residents told the Manchester Evening News it is rarely an area in which they struggle to sleep.

But on Wednesday evening (November 6), blue lights and emergency services disturbed the peace. Chaos graced the leafy street's usually neat gardens, as people vaulted over fences from house-to-house.

Police and ambulances swarmed the Crumpsall neighbourhood, and as morning broke, many woke to blue tape cordoning off their street and a blue forensics tent erected in the green gardens of some flats.

READ MORE: LIVE: Streets taped off after two men stabbed in Manchester - updates

One resident, who wishes not to be named, told the M.E.N how he was settling down to sleep when he realised that there was drama unfolding in the gardens of homes on Ardern Road. Looking out of his window, he recalls seeing people jumping over fences.

A couple of minutes later, he added, the place was "filled with police searching for something," he said.

Officers discovered that two young men had been stabbed. Both were quickly taken to hospital.

From the early hours of the morning, the investigations continued. Half a dozen officers were out along the roads in Crumpsall with long sticks as they rifled through piles of leaves, peered along gutters, and searched under parked cars.

On Saint Mary's Court Road, a blue tent loomed large in the gardens of flats. Detectives have been out in force, going door to door for information. And residents have been cautiously looking out of their windows in the hope that their neighbourhood will return to it's steady normality.

An elderly man living in the area also told the M.E.N.: "It's very peaceful usually, and I opened the curtains this morning to this huge incident. It's unbelievable."

Officers are now appealing for the public's help as they search for more information. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "At 10.40pm yesterday evening (November 6, 2024), police were called to assist colleagues in the ambulance service after a report of a stabbing on St Mary’s Court Road in Crumpsall.

"Officers attended and it was quickly established that two men aged 19 and 20 had suffered stab injuries and they have been taken to hospital where both men remain in a stable condition in hospital.

"No arrests have been made at this time, but detectives have been working through the night and into this morning to try and establish a timeline of events leading up to this incident.

"A cordon will remain in place on St Mary’s Court Road whilst officers work to conduct initial enquiries."

Police are asking any witnesses, anyone with information or anyone with dashcam/CCTV footage to come forward as soon as possible.

Contact CID detectives directly on 0161 8564304 quoting log number 3749 of November 6, 2024. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.