A man has been arrested after a police hunt and appeal following the "critical attack" of a mother and daughter in Eltham.

Emergency services were called to Adderley Gardens shortly after midday this afternoon to reports of two women being attacked.

The women, aged 64 and 30, were taken to a south London hospital. Both are said to be in a critical condition. 

According to police, the women had injuries "consistent with a violent assault."

They recovered a hammer from the scene, which is believed to have been used in the attack.

Officers believe the victims are a mother and daughter. Their next of kin have been informed.

A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed: “We were called at 12.12pm today (19 August) to reports of an incident on Adderley Gardens, SE9.

“We sent two ambulance crews, a single responder in a car and an incident response officer to the scene. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.

“We treated two women at the scene and took them both as a priority to hospital in south London by road.”

Police issued a photo of the 27-year-old Joe Xuereb, who they wanted to speak to urgently in connection with the incident.

After a public appeal in which police received several calls, officers armed with a taser have made an arrest on Old Farm Avenue in Sidcup.

The suspect has been taken to a south London police station.

DS Jane Corrigan said: “I would like to pass my thanks to the public and the media for all their support.

I am extremely proud of my colleagues and the community, who have all done so much to bring this part of the investigation to a safe resolution.

It shows what can be achieved when we all work together.”