The mother of a South Norwood man stabbed to death in a park has called for justice as police hunt for his killer.

Detectives began a murder inquiry after David Darko, 21, was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead in South Norwood Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Friends described his death as "every mother's worst nightmare" and said "the whole community" had been left devastated by the killing. 

RELATED: Man stabbed to death in South Norwood park named as 21-year-old David Darko 

RELATED: Murder probe launched after young man found stabbed to death in South Norwood Recreation Ground

Mr Darko, a supermarket night worker and former pupil at Archbishop Lanfranc School, was found suffering from stab wounds near a children's playground in the park at about 7.45pm.

Paramedics and police were called but he was pronounced dead an hour later.

Police have made no arrests and Scotland Yard homicide detectives today appealed for anyone with information about the murder to come forward.

Speaking at the family's home in Canal Walk this morning, Mr Darko's mother Ivy said: "Whoever has done this should be arrested and brought to justice."

Family friend Lawrencia Safo added: "This is every mother's worst nightmare. The whole family is devastated. The whole community."

Friends today paid tribute to Mr Darko as a "lovely boy" and "cool guy" who worked hard at Sainsbury's in Streatham to earn money to help his mum.

Seraphina Beh, 21, who lives across the street from the Darkos and has known his family for 14 years, said: "He was just genuine, not complicated. He's just a hard-working, straight guy.

"He was just a cool guy. He was just working at Sainsbury's, making a living to help his mum.

"This doesn't make sense that this has happened to him. It's a real shock."

Miss Beh said she did not know the circumstances that led to Mr Darko's death, but added: "It's not something for the media to grapple onto - black-on-black violence, anything like that. The story is that a mother has lost her son.

"David's life was not a stereotype. It's a story about a bloke who worked very hard."

Mr Darko and his brother Earl, 14, enjoyed barbecues at Miss Beh's house and the two families went to church together.

Her mother Venus, 45, said: "Any situation, any problem, we shared together."

"We used to say, 'We shop over there, they shop over here' - like Marks and Spencer's and Tesco."

Earl yesterday posted a heartfelt tribute to his elder brother on Instagram. 

He wrote: "It was literally yesterday I was talking to u before I went cinema.

"How is my yute dying 2 weeks after his birthday. Ffs. I LOVE YOU DAVID DARKO. REST UP IN HEAVEN IN PEACE."

Jeff Smith, 39, another neighbour of the family, described Mr Darko as "a lovely boy, very quiet."

He added: "It's a shame. The world is changing. It's getting meaner I think."

Elaine Hardy, a former teacher at Archbishop Lanfranc, said she remembered Mr Darko as a "lovely boy, well-liked, quite quiet, with a nice sense of humour", adding that it must be a "horrendous" time for his family.

South Norwood Recreation Ground, which has been cordoned off by police since Saturday night, was expected to re-open today.

A police forensics tent could be seen next to a children's playground by near the Tennison Road entrance of the park as officers with sniffed dogs combed the park for evidence yesterday.

Police carried out door-to-door calls at houses near the park over the weekend.

Anyone with information to urged to call the Metropolitan Police on 020 8721 4054 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.