Police have charged a man with attempted murder after a young woman was stabbed in Dagenham.

Barry Peacham, 26, a gardener of no fixed abode in Dagenham will appear in custody at Barkingside Magistrates' Court today (Saturday February 25).

He has been charged with the tempted murder of 29-year-old Qingqing Rao in Castle Green on Monday, February 13.

Qingqing, a city business analyst, had been walking home from work when she was attacked.

She suffered multiple stab wounds and serious head injuries and remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Peacham has also been charged with the robbery of a woman in Castle Green on February 11 and two counts of possession of a blade.

He had been arrested on Thursday, February 23 and charged the following day.

A 29-year-old woman was also arrested that afternoon on suspicion of attempted murder and robbery. She has been released on bail until a date in late March pending further enquiries.