A court has heard that a boy was stabbed and left with "life-threatening" injuries following a dispute over a fake handbag.

Two youths went on trial today at Reading Crown Court, charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent.

This is in relation to an incident in Hemdean Road, Caversham, on August 9 last year.

The defendants in the case - who cannot be named for legal reasons - stand accused of ambushing a youth after he stole a fake Louis Vuitton handbag from one of them.

Both deny the charges.

Prosecuting barrister Patrick Dennis said the defendants – both aged 16 at the time – came together to "take revenge" against the victim, luring him to Hemdean Road via text.

Mr Dennis stated: "Clearly, arrangements had been made between the defendants for one of them to purchase the bag.

"What's clear is that ... [the other boy] stole the bag - he didn't pay for it."

One of the boys took a scalpel and stabbed the victim three times, causing wounds to his abdomen, chest and arm.

The blade punctured his heart, and only emergency surgery saved his life.

The other defendant in the case was not directly involved in the attack - but Mr Dennis told jurors that he went with the assailant to the scene, and must have been involved in plotting the ambush.

The boy who took the knife to the scene claims he acted in self-defence.

The court heard of the chilling aftermath of the incident, when the youth who had been stabbed went running for help.

Mr Dennis said: "He went to his sister's address. His sister states she was in bed when she heard him screaming her name.

"He sounded distressed, she went downstairs, and he told her he had been stabbed."

The opening of the trial this morning was delayed by circumstances in court, with Judge Heather Norton describing the on-site staff shortage today as among the "worst" she had ever seen.

The trial continues.