A man was chased down a street and beaten to death after a fight broke out in a chicken shop last night.

Police have launched a murder investigation after the 31-year-old victim was found dead near All Saints DLR station in east London just after midnight.

He is said to have been chased 100metres down a main road after being involved in a fight in nearby Perfect Fried Chicken. The man is believed to have been stabbed during the attack.

Witnesses told how the brawl had spilled out onto East India Dock Road after shouting was heard in the street in Poplar.

Man found dead near east London station 10 show all Man found dead near east London station 1/10 Forensic officers worked at homes while roads were closed off Lesley Horner 2/10 The man was found just after midnight in Poplar Lesley Horner 3/10 Police officers stationed in the road as detectives launched a murder inquiry Lesley Horner 4/10 Police shut off the road near All Saints station where the man was pronounced dead Lesley Horner 5/10 6/10 Police at the scene in east London 7/10 Police at the scene in east London 8/10 Police at the scene in east London 9/10 Police at the scene in east London 10/10 Onlookers at the scene in east London 1/10 Forensic officers worked at homes while roads were closed off Lesley Horner 2/10 The man was found just after midnight in Poplar Lesley Horner 3/10 Police officers stationed in the road as detectives launched a murder inquiry Lesley Horner 4/10 Police shut off the road near All Saints station where the man was pronounced dead Lesley Horner 5/10 6/10 Police at the scene in east London 7/10 Police at the scene in east London 8/10 Police at the scene in east London 9/10 Police at the scene in east London 10/10 Onlookers at the scene in east London

A forensics team was scouring the area this morning, which remains cordoned off to traffic and pedestrians.

The body was removed around 10am and a post-mortem will be held in due course to determine the cause of death.

Resident Lesley Horner, a school helper, she was unable to go to work on the Isle of Dogs because of forensic officers working near her home.

She said her son witnessed three men arguing outside his bedroom window before two ran from the scene.

She said: “My son is an insomniac so he was up at the time and heard the shouting. He looked outside and saw three men arguing.

“When I woke up there were forensics working in my building downstairs which meant I couldn’t get to work and all the roads were closed off.

“This area is starting to get a bit rough it does make me nervous. I live with my son at the moment but he is moving out soon and then I think I want to leave and find somewhere quieter.”

A resident of a nearby flat told the Standard: "I heard noises at about 11pm, it was men shouting.

"You always hear noises at night here but this time it was serious, you knew something was going to happen.

"I didn't realise someone had actually died until the morning," she added.

The man's next of kin have yet to be informed.

A worker at a nearby taxi service said local businesses had been told the fight broke out in a chicken shop and involved young men.

He said: "When I came into work this morning at 6am there was just one police car but more quickly arrived and they cordoned off the whole area.

"Other nearby businesses have been told it began with a fight in the chicken ship down the road. It's shocking that it's happened here and especially when the people involved are young."

Scotland Yard today confirmed a murder investigation was under way but did not provide a cause of death.

A spokesman said: "A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Poplar and detectives are appealing for witnesses and information.

"Police were called by the London Ambulance Service shortly before midnight on Wednesday, 21 September to reports of an injured man close to All Saints DLR by East India Dock Road, E14.

"Officers attended and the man, believed aged 31, was pronounced dead at the scene at 00:22hrs.

"Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8345 3985 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.