A church member who had a close friend stabbed to death said he has been encouraged by the response to the first knife crime concert in the city.

Eastern Daily Press: Police were called to an attempted robbery in Norwich last month during which a teen was stabbed. Photo: Ruth LawesPolice were called to an attempted robbery in Norwich last month during which a teen was stabbed. Photo: Ruth Lawes (Image: Archant)

The first of two No More Knives concerts took place in Norwich on Friday (December 6) with a second set to be held in the city on Saturday (December 16).

The concerts, held by the Potters House Church in Norwich, come following a couple of knife attacks in the Dereham Road area of the city in the past few weeks.

Michael Brick, a member of Potters House Church on the road, organised the concerts after he himself lost a friend who was stabbed while he was growing up in Leicester.

He said: "It went really well for the first one.

"There were quite a few people. It's getting the message across that it doesn't have to be that way and I was encouraged by the support from people there.

"I believe it was only the beginning though and am hoping we will see a lot more people on Saturday."

He added: "Even if people have not been affected by knife crime the point I'm making is we want to stop it before anything happens."

Following his experiences of knife crime - and the devastation it causes - Mr Brick, who became a Christian at 17, wants to get the message across that young people "don't have to choose that path".

He said: "I'm a gospel rapper who's trying to show people that you can change and highlighting how parents need to be very cautious as I was brought up in a good home with good parents yet I was carrying a knife at 15/16 years of age and I'm currently in contact with the police to proceed further with this campaign throughout Norfolk in the schools."

The 23-year-old, who has dubbed his campaign 'save a life, drop the knife', added: "I really do believe we can see a massive change in our city and our local communities."

The next concert will take place at TheOne80 venue on Stevenson Road, Norwich, on December 14 at 7pm.

They follow a daylight brawl on Dereham Road on November 5 during which two men were stabbed and an attempted robbery near the Larkman Lane area, off Dereham Road, in which a teen was stabbed just a few days later.