A 59-year-old man was stabbed to death after a vicious attack on an elderly gay couple in Bickley last night.

A 56-year-old man, believed to be his long term partner, was also seriously injured at their home on Page Heath Villas around 8pm.

It is thought they had been living together for a number of years.

The 59-year-old victim died at the scene, while the other man is in a serious condition in a South London hospital.

Roads around the area have been closed, possibly until this evening while investigators carry out a fingertip search.

Police keeping an 'open mind'

Police say they are keeping an open mind about the attack but a murder enquiry has been launched.

Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons said:

"We have found no evidence of a break-in and we are not ruling out that it may have been a homophobic attack."

A post mortem examination will be carried out in due course and police have yet to inform the man's next-of-kin.