'Silent Witness' actress Liz Carr has been stabbed in the head on the streets of London.

The 45-year-old star - who plays scientist Clarissa Mullery on the programme - is currently recovering from a slash wound after a man in his 20s attacked Liz with a pair of scissors.

A friend of the wheelchair-bound actress said: "It was a terrifying experience for Liz.

"She was being pushed in her wheelchair when this young man armed with two pairs of scissors suddenly headed towards her.

"He followed them and began lashing out and stabbed Liz in the head."

Liz - who has used a wheelchair since she was seven due to a rare joint condition - received some protection from her carer, who did her best to keep the attacker at bay.

The friend told The Sun newspaper: "There was blood everywhere but she was very lucky that the wound grazed her head and she was not more seriously injured.

"Typically, Liz is putting a brave face on it - joking that it was like being attacked by Edward Scissorhands.

"She has no idea who he was and has never seen him before."

Liz and her carer - who suffered a broken finger and minor cuts in the incident - were both subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.

The actress is now being comforted at home by her female partner Jo.

Meanwhile, her attacker was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, but has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act after a police doctor concluded he was unfit to be interviewed.