A pensioner who phoned the ambulance after finding a mother and daughter covered in blood following a hammer attack has spoken out.

The two women, aged 64 and 30, were taken to a south London hospital after emergency services were called to Adderley Gardens shortly after midday on Sunday (August 19).

A hammer was recovered at the scene of the random unprovoked attack, and police later arrested their main suspect after an appeal. 

READ MORE - 'Fighting for their lives' - Man arrested after mother and daughter 'attacked with hammer' in Eltham

Detectives were hunting for Joe Xuereb, 27, and Scotland Yard confirmed they arrested Xuereb on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder at 7.35pm.

He had been spotted by a woman who then followed him in her car, until the force were able to detain him on Old Farm Avenue, Sidcup.

News Shopper:

Bob Gover, 69, a retired TV engineer, heard a scream outside the window of his flat as a passer-by saw the badly injured victims.

He said: "I heard a bit of a commotion, I looked outside and there was about half a dozen people out there.

"I went out there and I saw blood on the face of one of them and I knew something had happened so I ran inside and phoned for an ambulance.

"One of them was moving at the time and sitting in an upright position with somebody holding her up, while the other one was laying down.

"They were both covered in blood."

News Shopper:

He added that the younger woman's partner was by her side when the ambulance arrived.

One resident, along with some others neighbours, went to help the women despite the suspect remaining in Adderley Gardens swinging his hammer.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "It was horrific.

"She was hit in the face and the head, and the other woman was hit in the head."

She said the suspect was still in the road while she bandaged up one of the victim's face before adding: "When you have two women laid out on the pavement, what do you do? Anyone would do it.

She added: "I feel sick, if you saw it on telly you'd turn it off."

Another neighbour described the suspect "calmly" swinging the hammer in the street while his victims lay bleeding on the ground.

She said: "I heard screams, it sounded like kids.

"Then I looked out the window and saw them covered in blood.

"A lot of people were helping them. Blood was pouring out of their heads.

"And he was there swinging his hammer. He was so calm."

She added that he started hitting a brick wall before he "got on his pushbike and calmly cycled away from the scene".

She said the two victims are not believed to live locally, and were visiting friends in the area.

The mum and daughter remain in critical condition.