Residents have spoken of watching in horror as paramedics tried to save the life of a man found dead inside a Kingston flat.

Police launched a murder inquiry yesterday after the man, in his 20s, was reported as stabbed to death, although cause of death has not yet been officially confirmed.

Paramedics were called to Thursley House on the Kingsnympton Estate at about 6.20pm, and took a man from the building, laying him outside as they tried to save his life.

Several residents reported seeing him bleeding heavily but said he was alive when he was removed.

He was pronounced dead by ambulance staff and his body was left outside the front of the block, between between flats nine to 16.

Police later put up screens as it was turned into a crime scene.

Another resident said there were about 100 people stood outside Thursley House, watching paramedics at work.

Stephen Beard, 49, said: "You could see him lying on the floor. He must have been lying there for four or five hours.

"The little girl who lives there was running around on the grass outside.

"As soon as I saw him on the floor I thought he was dead.”

A neighbour said the man was a regular visitor to the flat in Thursley House where a man and his daughter live.

He said the man, described as a white British man in his 30s, used to visit a resident, a man in his 30s with a young daughter, accompanied with a woman, believed to be the girl's mother.

Tayo Awe, 35, Thursley House resident and father-of-three, said: "I've lived here nine years and I'm really worried now for my kids and myself.

"Hopefully they'll find the people."

Any witnesses or anyone with any information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4155 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.