A bouncer at a private party in London's exclusive Mayfair district was knifed to death as 2019 got off to a bloody start in the capital.

The security guard is understood to have been trying to stop a group of men from entering the party when he was fatally wounded.

Two other men - security guards aged 37 and 29 - and a 29-year-old woman were also stabbed in the carnage on Park Lane at around 5.30am this morning.

About 100 yards of London's iconic Park Lane was cordoned off this evening following the incident, with both police and forensics at the scene.

Meanwhile, a woman was stabbed to death at her home in Camberwell, in the south of the city, at 4.20am.

Police in Park Lane, London after a security guard was stabbed to death and three others injured as they tried to bar a group of men from entering a New Year's Eve party

Police and forensic investigators at a property in Park Lane, London after a security guard was stabbed to death and three others injured

Police forensics experts investigate a murder in London's Park Lane just five and a half hours into the New Year

Police at the scene of the incident at 5.36am on Park Lane in Mayfair. They were called after reports of stabbing

The scene today (pictured) where a security guard is understood to have been trying to stop a group of men from entering the party when he was fatally wounded

The two deaths followed the capital's deadliest year since 2008 which ended last night with 134 people murdered in London in 2018.

This morning, police were called at 5.36am to a property on Park Lane in Mayfair to reports of a stabbing, and attended with London Ambulance Service paramedics.

The police were seen on camera holding an alleged suspect at the scene.

The doorman, said to be in his early 30s, was found with stab injuries following the private party and pronounced dead at 6.05am.

Officers have not made any arrests.

Two other security staff and a woman who came to the door were also stabbed, and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The building where the incident occurred consists of luxury suites owned by the Jumeirah Group and offer a 24 hour gym, a second floor restaurant, chauffered car services and a Heathrow VIP service.

Forensic services at the scene in Mayfair, London today, after a security guard was fatally wounded

Police have been at the exclusive property all day today as they start yet another murder probe

Overlooking Hyde Park, Grosvenor boasts on its website of a 'unique experience at London's most exclusive address'.

Just a few minutes walk from Harrods and Selfridges, the suites offer 130 contemporary residences, including four London suites and four penthouse suites.

It offers: 'Exclusive guests only Atrium restauranrt and 24 hour in-room dining.

'Luxury services include daily maid service and 24/7 consierge and guest services.'

Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge said: 'The incident took place outside a venue that was hosting a private party.

'I would like to hear from anyone who was present at that event and witnessed this incident. A number of witnesses have already been spoken to.

'But it is clear many others who were present are yet to be traced, some of whom may have captured the attack on their mobile phones.

A woman, aged in her early 30s, was stabbed and died at her home in Camberwell

Police cars at the scene following the shooting at 5am this morning in Dalston, East London

'It appears the deceased and the two injured males were working as security staff for the party. They were attacked by a group of males who were outside trying to enter the venue.

'The female was also attacked as she assisted the security staff in closing the front door of the premises.

Unexplained death in Home Counties suburb The discovery of a man's body lying on a grass verge in a suburb was at the centre of a police probe today. The victim was discovered at first light and police set up a forensic tent after placing a white rug over his body. The man's body was spotted near the back of a Co-op store in the Tilehurst area of Reading, Berkshire. Thames Valley Police said the death was being treated as unexplained and a team of forensic experts had been sent to the scene to examine the area. People living near the scene took to social media with one saying: 'It is so sad at the start of a new day. The poor man and his family.' The man's body will soon be taken to a mortuary at the Royal Berkshire Hospital where a pathologist will carry out a post mortem examination. Advertisement

'This shocking incident happened just hours into a New Year, the area was particularly busy with people out celebrating and making their way home from various parties and organised events.'

Rising gun and knife crime brought the total 2018 figure of homicides being investigated by Scotland Yard to 134 - the highest since 2008 when there were 154.

Police are battling against 180 violent gangs across London dragging children into crime, amid more than 70 deaths last year involving a knife, and a dozen with a gun.

Today, Metropolitan Police officers were called to the house in Camberwell, South East London, at 4.20am – and the woman was pronounced dead half an hour later.

A 34-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and was taken to a police station where he remained in custody this afternoon.

A crowd of about 15 people, believed to be friends and relatives of the victim, gathered near the scene of the murder this afternoon - but declined to speak.

Flowers have been laid outside the home, and one card read: 'Loved by everyone'.

Speaking about the attack in Camberwell, a police spokesman said: 'A man has been arrested after a woman was fatally stabbed at a residential address in Southwark.

A drunken thug in the West Midlands attacked a partygoer with this 2ft sword overnight

The scene outside Visions Video Bar in East London following the shooting in the early hours

'Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to a property in Camberwell at 4.20am on January 1 to a report of a stabbing.

'Officers attended and found a woman, aged in her early 30s, with stab injuries. Despite the efforts of paramedics, she was pronounced dead at 4.50am.

'Her next of kin have not been informed. Formal identification is yet to take place. A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.

'A man, aged 34, was initially arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. He has been taken to a south London police station where he remains custody.

'Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating and enquiries continue.'

Meanwhile police insisted today that they are powerless to arrest 'violent drunken idiots' as New Year's Eve celebrations descended into chaos across Wild West Britain.

Terrified residents near the scene of the shooting at Visions Video Bar said they fear walking to work every morning because they are faced with violent revellers

One woman in her 20s was shot at a nightclub in Dalston, East London, while a drunken thug in the West Midlands attacked a partygoer with a 2ft sword.

In Essex, a youth was stabbed once in the stomach at Club 195 in Epping after being involved in 'a verbal exchange' with a group of men on the dancefloor.

Richard Cooke, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said officers are becoming powerless to arrest 'violent or aggressive drunken idiots' due to cuts.

Elsewhere, Sussex Police Chief Inspector Roy Hodder said his force managed more than 100 emergency calls an hour between midnight and 3am this morning.

Married father-of-two Mr Cooke tweeted shortly before 8am today: 'Just got home after the New Year's Eve night shift.

'Reflection - the absolute number of violent/aggressive drunken idiots who 10, 15 years ago feet wouldn't have touched ground on way to custody - now simply tolerated.

Richard Cooke, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said officers are becoming powerless to arrest 'violent or aggressive drunken idiots' due to cuts

'Reason - we simply hadn't got the officers to do anything else. Arrests inevitably take officers away for hours these days and we can't afford to lose them.

'The line of what constitutes acceptable behaviour is pushed further and further to make ends meet.'

He spoke out after a drunken thug was arrested on suspicion of attacking a woman with a 2ft-long sword at a New Year's Eve party in the region.

Mr Cooke tweeted a picture of the 'fearsome' weapon, saying it had been discarded in the bushes outside a party – and the suspect was in custody.

Earlier in the evening in the West Midlands region, two people were robbed of their phones by three thugs who threatened them with machetes.

Meanwhile in East London, a woman in her 20s was taken to hospital with a bullet wound to her leg following a shooting at about 5am this morning.

A poster advertising the New Year's Eve party at Visions Video Bar in Dalston last night

Terrified residents near the scene of the shooting at Visions Video Bar said they fear walking to work every morning because they are faced with violent revellers.

A couple, who have lived in the area for 35 years, said they sometimes have to walk by drugged-up thugs outside the club on their way to work.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: 'We are terrified. We walk by the place every morning at 5am on the way to work. You wouldn't believe the things we witness.

'Just two weeks ago we saw five men throw someone to the ground, and start kicking him in the head. There's been stabbings, we've seen blood all over the road.

'There is so much violence, there are fights every week, there are hookers and their pimps, it's not right.'

Her husband added: 'They are all on drugs, I saw one smash his head repeatedly on the bus stop until he smashed it.

'We've been here for 35 years and it used to be really bad, but when the Labour government did up the area in the 1990s it got so much better. It was safe and really nice to live in.

'But in the past two years it's got really bad again. We don't feel safe. It's not right that we are terrified just walking to work in the morning.'

Metropolitan Police officers have closed local roads, but the woman's injuries are not believed to be life threatening. No arrests have been made.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Police were called to a nightclub on Kingsland Road in Hackney, at 5am on Tuesday, January 1 following reports of a shooting.

'Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended. A woman, believed to be aged in her mid-20s, was found with a gunshot wound to her leg.

'She was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to hospital. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. There has been no arrest. Enquiries continue.'

Kingsland Road is a popular stretch of the A10 road at night - with bars, shops and restaurants running along a section which takes about 20 minutes to walk along.

The youth in Epping was in a stable condition after being stabbed at 1.20am. The group of men involved in the 'verbal exchange' left the dancefloor after the stabbing.

The victim's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. A knife found in a nearby street will be sent away for forensic testing but detectives do not yet know if it was the weapon used in the attack.

Another teenager was left unconscious and with several teeth missing after being attacked in the street outside Club 195 at around 3.30am, Essex Police said.

A spokesman said: 'We do not believe that these two incidents are linked, but would encourage anyone who was out celebrating New Year's Eve at Club 195 to contact us with any information if you saw either of these occur.'

Earlier in the night in London at 10pm yesterday, police were alerted to a car being driven the wrong way down a one-way street in nearby Stoke Newington.

A woman officer who tried to stop the vehicle suffered minor injuries in a collision, and all three occupants were arrested.

A police spokesman said: 'Shortly before 10pm on December 31, officers in a police vehicle were alerted to a car being driven the wrong way down a one-way street in Stoke Newington.

'A female officer who attempted to stop the vehicle on Stoke Newington High Street suffered minor injuries after the car collided with her and then struck a traffic light.

'The officer did not require hospital treatment. The three occupants of the vehicle were all arrested and taken into custody.'

Separately, counter terrorism police are leading an investigation after a knifeman stabbed three people at Victoria Station in Manchester last night.

Two commuters - a man and woman in their 50s - were taken to hospital with knife injuries and a British Transport Police officer was stabbed in the shoulder.