Four teenagers have been released on bail pending further inquiries after a youth was stabbed in Maidstone on Friday night.

A 14-year-old, 15-year-old and 16-year-old have been bailed until Monday, January 11 and an 18-year-old has been bailed until Friday, December 11.

The arrests were made after police were called to an address in Northumberland Road, Shepway, at 7pm on Friday November 20, after a disturbance in which a boy was stabbed in the upper thighs.

He was taken to Maidstone Hosptial by ambulance, and his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Police are still seeking one other in connection to the stabbing.

The incident came just three days before police launched a week long campaign in Maidstone, urging people to surrender their knives.

Kent Police is holding the event as part of the Home Office’s Tackling Knives Campaign which runs until March 2010.

Bins have been placed at the front counter of Maidstone Police Station where knives, which have been safely wrapped, can be deposited anonymously.

Crime Reduction Manager John Grant said: "The last knife surrender was held more than three years ago and with the Home Office campaign running, we thought it would be a good opportunity to encourage people to 'bin that knife', thereby taking items which have the potential to be lethal weapons off our streets.

"Even though you may have no intention of using a knife in your possession, you cannot necessarily stop it getting into the wrong hands, or even being used on yourself.

Chief Inspector David Pascoe said there is not a knife problem in the County Town: “This is more about prevention rather than cure, everywhere has issues with knives. There isn’t a problem in Maidstone and we want to keep it that way.”

It is illegal to carry a knife of weapon for ‘protection’ and anyone found with one in a public place can face up to six months in prison as well as a £5,000 fine.

Anyone with information about the incident on Friday, November 20 should call 01795 419161 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.