A teenage boy was chased through the street by would-be attackers armed with a meat cleaver on Saturday afternoon, witnesses said.

Police were called to Queen’s Crescent to reports that a young man was being chased by a suspect riding a bike armed with a “large knife”.

One witness, who asked not to be named, was shopping in the market street shortly before 1pm on Saturday. They said: “Two young men, one armed with a meat cleaver, ran up shouting and screaming at a third young man saying they would kill him.”

A Met spokesman said: “Police were called at 12:39hrs on Saturday, 7 April to Queens Crescent, NW5 to a report of a male being chased with a large knife by a suspect on a bicycle.

“Officers attended – neither the suspect nor the victim were located. No offences were recorded. A report was recorded for intelligence purposes.”