Police last night were hunting a gang of thieves who stabbed a father and son while attempting to steal the new family car from the drive of a Solihull house.

Steven Murrihy, aged 43, was in a stable condition last night after he rushed out of his house in Tanworth Lane, Shirley, to help his wife Denise who was surrounded by three attackers.

Their 18-year-old son Thomas also dashed to help his mother during the attack which happened just before 8pm on Tuesday.

Police believe the men could have followed Denise from a shopping trip at the nearby Tesco store before they ambushed her on the drive.

When she arrived home the three men demanded the keys to her black VW Golf GTI, which the family had only just bought.

But her husband and son ran out to scare off the thieves and were savagely assaulted.

Both were taken to hospital and treated for stab wounds.

Thomas had a single injury to the abdomen and was released in the early hours of yesterday.

His father remained in hospital with multiple injuries last night when his condition was described by police as "stable".

Detective Inspector Iain Grant, who is leading the investigation, said: "The lady was confronted by three individuals who demanded the car keys.

"Her husband and son intervened. There was a short struggle and both received stab wounds.

"The injuries are not lifethreatening although this was a very traumatic experience.

"We are appealing for witnesses who either saw the incident or a blue vehicle which may have been a Subaru, leaving the scene. If anyone saw this car they should contact us."

One of the offenders may have left a hat at the scene.

The family live in a threebedroom 1960s detached house in a leafy area of Solihull.

Yesterday neighbours were still shocked.

Bob Wheeler, aged 56, said: "My first thought was that it was an accident but then the police came round and told us there had been a stabbing.

"My daughter Charlotte went to Alderbrook Secondary School with Tom and he used to wash my car.

"They're a very nice family. Tom is very affable and I always got on well with him. I don't think he'd have thought twice about going to help his mum.

"This is generally a quiet area. Obviously there are the usual problems of burglaries and items being stolen from cars but never anything like this."

Jackie Jones, aged 59, said: "I was very shocked. I know the family by sight and they'll always wave when I walk past the window. They seem very nice, very normal."

Yesterday police, who are treating the stabbings as attempted murder, had sealed off a large section of the road around the Murrihys' home and were carrying out fingertip searches of the area.

Staff at the Murrihys' company, Regent Refrigeration, in Solihull, said they were unable to comment and did not know when Mr Murrihy would return to work.

Solihull police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 0845 113 5000.