Murder detectives are appealing for information after a man was stabbed and killed in Croydon.

Police were called at about 4.45pm yesterday to Cromwell Road following reports of a fight in which a group of males, one armed with a knife, were seen attacking the victim.

Man stabbed in broad daylight in Thornton Heath

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a man suffering stab wounds in Whitehorse Road.

He was taken to a south London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6.42pm.

Formal identification is yet to take place, however, next of kin have been informed and officers are confident the dead man is 24-year-old Adrian Young from Croydon.

A shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, witnessed the desperate attempts of emergency services to save the man's life.

He said: "The man was saying 'I cannot see, I'm going blind'. He was shouting 'I cannot see anything'.

"Police were trying to push his heart. He was saying 'I cannot hold up' and they were saying 'talk to me, talk to me'.

"All the blood was coming out, I could see blood coming out of his heart as he was lying on the street.

"This lasted for about 30 minutes.

"There were so many police officers that were trying to push down on his chest and after that they pushed me away.

"He was turning his face around and around.

"Stabbings have happened about five or six times here."

A 67-year-old Cromwell Road resident, who did not want to be named, said: "We heard a helicopter.

"Then we came outside to be nosy. Then they cordoned off the street.

"They said someone had been hurt. It's not very nice, I think it's sad.

"It's someone's son and it's very sad. This kind of thing happens everywhere it seems these days."

And another woman, who also did not want to be named, said: "I didn't know what had happened but then one of my neighbours said they thought there had been a fight between some lads and one of them was hurt.

"The police took a couple of cars away from down the road and they had forensic people about taking pictures and they erected a tent in the middle of the road just along there.

"It is a shock to hear that he's dead. I didn't know it was that bad to be honest.

"There used to be fights in this road in the past. I have lived here a long time and it has had its moments but it's fairly quiet."

The Metropolitan Police's homicide and major crime command are now leading the investigation into the killing and they are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Inspector John McQuade said: "We believe that the stabbing took place following an altercation that had been going on in the area earlier yesterday afternoon, although we retain an open mind regarding the cause of this dispute.

"I would urge anyone who can help us to piece together events to come forward and contact police as soon as possible."

Detectives can be contacted in the incident room on 020 8721 4005 or, to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

There have been no arrests.

Did you know Adrian Young? Call 020 8722 6353 or email rfisk@london.newsquest.co.uk to pay tribute to him.