TWO people have been arrested after the stabbing of a dad outside the gates of a primary school.

Steven Higginson was stabbed outside North Walkden Primary School at about 3.30pm on Friday afternoon.

Police said they were looking for a man and a woman and now, after two arrests, they say they are no longer looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.

Mr Higginson, believed to be a 33-year-old dad-of-six, was picking up his children from the school when a man jumped out of a car and attacked him, leaving him with stab wounds in his back and chest.

The attack happened in front of horrified children and parents, yards from the school gates, just after school closing time.

A governor at the school described it as "pure evil".

Mr Higginson was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary with stab wounds in his back and chest.

He is understood to have since been discharged and is said to be in a stable condition.

Det Insp Ben Hart, who is leading the police investigation, said: “We have now arrested a second person and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with what happened on Friday afternoon.

“As we have previously stated, many people would have been shocked as to what they had witnessed outside a primary school.

“However, I hope these arrests act as reassurance to the community and parents that swift action has been taken.

“I would like to thank those who came forward and spoke to police.

"The information provided ensured we could conduct a thorough investigation which has involved detectives working through the day and night to get us in the position we are now in.”

Police and teachers will be on hand at the school on Monday morning to deal with any concerns or issues that parents wish to raise.

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 8565360 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.