A pensioner has been arrested after stabbing to death a suspected armed burglar he confronted in his home early today.

The 78-year-old was asleep with his wife in their south London house when he heard noises and woke to challenge two men in the middle of a suspected break-in.

The homeowner was confronted by one of the intruders who was armed with a screwdriver and forced to retreat into his kitchen.

Police said there was a struggle in the kitchen and the 37-year-old suspected burglar sustained a stab wound to his chest. The man was rushed to hospital but died at 3.37am.

The second suspect - who police say was also armed - escaped and is being sought by police after the incident in Hither Green, south east London.

The homeowner suffered bruising to his arms but his condition is not thought to be serious.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm but re-arrested on suspicion of murder. He was in custody at a south London police today.

Scotland Yard said officers were called to reports of a “burglary in process” at around 12.45am in Further Green Road, Hither Green.

A spokesman said: “The 78-year-old resident had found two males inside his address.

“One suspect went upstairs while the homeowner was forced into the kitchen by the second suspect, armed with a screwdriver.

“A struggle had ensued in the kitchen during which one of the males found inside the property sustained a stab wound to the upper body.”

Police said the dead man’s family have been informed, though the man has not yet been formally identified.

Detectives from the Met’s homicide and major crime command have launched an investigation.

Evelyn Henry, who lives on the road, said: “I saw flashing lights and lots of commotion in the early hours. It was around the houses opposite me. I’m not sure which of the neighbours were targeted.

“Police then came round to ask me what I’d seen or whether I had heard an altercation, but I told them I hadn’t.”

She added: “We have had a lot of police activity on the road before and problems with intruders.”

Mother-of-two Maribel Garcia, 42, was woken up at 1am as the police searched for the second suspect.

She said: “I’m not a good sleeper so the blue lights woke me up.

“I could see the police cars going round and round looking for someone.”

In 2013 the coalition government strengthened the law on self defence to allow householders to take tougher action against intruders.

In a landmark case last year the High Court ruled that householders can use a disproportionate level of force against an intruder in their homes if they reasonably believe it is necessary.

Farmer Tony Martin sparked a national debate about householders’ rights to protect their property when he was jailed for shooting dead a teenage burglar in 1999.

Mr Martin was living alone at his isolated Norfolk farmhouse, Bleak House, when he discovered Fred Barras, 16, in his home acting as a lookout for another burglar.

The farmer fired his illegal-held pump action shotgun three times towards the intruders, killing Barras.

Martin served three years in prison after initially being found guilty of murder, although the conviction was reduced to manslaughter on appeal.