Police in the north-east of England are hunting a knifeman who stabbed a teenager in his own home — after showing him what looked like a Bermuda driving licence.

The 19-year-old was attacked with his own kitchen knife after he invited the stranger — who had tattoos of flames on both arms — back to his shared home in Newcastle for drinks in the early hours of Saturday.

Northumbria Police said the teenager and two friends were going home after a night out when they met a man in the city centre and asked him back to their flat on John Dobson Street.

Once there, an altercation broke out which left the teenager with stab wounds to his chest and a cut on his head. His injuries are serious but not life-threatening and he is in hospital in a stable condition.

Police said they believed the injuries were caused by a knife from the kitchen at the flat.

The attacker was described as white and about 28. He was said to have spoken with an American accent and during the conversation he showed a "Bermudan-style [sic]" driving licence.

Northumbria Police are asking anyone who may know the identity of the man to call them on 011 44 3456 043 043, extension 62103.