A 78-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed during a reported burglary this morning in Hither Green.

One of the burglary suspects, a 38-year-old man, was stabbed in the during a struggle with the resident and later died from his injuries.

A spokesman for the Met Police said it received a call at around 12.45am this morning to reports of a burglary in progress in South Park Crescent.

The spokesman told News Shopper: "The 78-year-old resident had found two males inside his address.

Read more: Pensioner held over 'burglary murder' Richard Osborn-Brooks released on bail

"A struggle ensued between one of the males and the homeowner.

"The man, aged 38, sustained a stab wound to the upper body."

The injured man, found collapsed in Further Green Road, was taken to a central London hospital by London Ambulance Service but died from his injuries at 3.37am.

The Met confirmed the man's next of kin have been informed, though the man has not yet been formally identified.

Police cordoned off parts of Further Green Road and South Park Crescent this morning as officers continue to investigate the scene.

The 78-year-old was bruised on his arms but was initially arrested by police on suspicion of GBH and further arrested on suspicion of murder.

Read more: What does the law say about self-defence against an intruder in your home?

An elderly woman who lives at the edge of the cordon, who did not give her name, said: "I woke up in the night and heard a disturbance.

"I didn't get up, but I saw all the police this morning.

"It's scary, this is normally a very quiet area."

One neighbour, who also asked not to be named, said the homeowner had been retired for many years.

"He's been retired for 26 years. I did some building work on his house a while ago, but I haven't seen him for about three weeks." said the neighbour.

One man, who lives on the adjoining Further Green Road, said there had been a recent spate of burglaries in the area.

"I was burgled in the last couple of months," said the retired man, who did not want to be named.

"I was renovating the house and they broke in and took a laptop. I know this has happened to others recently."

Adam Lake, who lives near the scene, also said he did not feel safe from crime.

He said: "When I heard it was a burglary I wasn't surprised, there's been a noticeable increase in crime in the area.

"We've even had to put up CCTV at home because we didn't feel safe. Such an awful event, I feel terrible for the man that was burgled.

"He doesn't deserve to be punished for defending himself, and the neighbours that I've spoken to all agree that the priority needs to be to support him after everything that he's been through.

"He was just protecting himself after all."

A man who lives opposite where the 38-year-old man was found collapsed said he was awoken by flashing lights at around 12.30am.

"I saw a commotion outside and looked out of my window to see a white man lying on the ground," he said.

"He had been stripped and was being given CPR by medics for at least 20 minutes, then he was taken away in an ambulance."

The man added that between six and eight paramedics had been attending to the man.

The second suspect in the burglary fled the scene prior to police arrival and has yet to be found.

The homicide and major crime command will investigate as enquiries continue.

A post-mortem examination for the man who died will be scheduled.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting CAD214/4Apr. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.