A WOMAN was seen running out of a butchers shop with a knife shortly before another woman was stabbed to death, witnesses have claimed.

Police have launched a murder inquiry following the incident in Bexleyheath.

Officers were called at around 8.30am this morning (October 10) to reports of an assault in Broadway.

Police and London Ambulance Service attended and discovered a woman, aged between 40 and 50, suffering from a stab wound.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Next of kin have now been informed.

A second woman was treated at the scene for a minor knife injury to her hand.

A woman has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The owner of the British Meat Market in Broadway, Bob Paxton said a woman came into his shop at about 8.30am.

He said: “Without saying a single word she walked behind the counter.

“There was only one guy working in the front cleaning trays.

“She walked behind the cabinet and picked up a 12 inch butcher's steak knife and raised it double-handed above her head.

“With that the manager ran out of the shop like an Olympic sprinter.

Mr Paxton added: “I caught a glance of her running out of the shop. She ran down the road and I wanted to see where she went next.”

The 65-year-old said the woman ran down Broadway towards the war memorial as staff dialled 999.

He said: “She had gone into the bowling alley car park and I told the police where she had gone.”

Dale Slater, of Berlin Road, Erith, was waiting for his sister in Broadway when he heard shouting and screaming.

The 18-year-old said: "The woman came running out of the butchers with a knife. I didn't see her stab anyone.

"There was a knife about 9ins."

He added: "She got stopped by the tile shop. Police blocked her in. I thought she was being arrested for shop lifting or something."

An employee at The Rose pub in Broadway said a blade had been taken from the British Meat Market ahead of the killing.

The woman, who did not give her name, said: "I didn't see what happened but I think one of the girls stole a knife from the butcher's.

“A policeman told my boss that's what happened. We were really shocked. On the whole we don't get that sort of thing around here. It isn't a bad place."

Officers said it was too early to determine a motive for the killing.

An incident room has opened under Detective Chief Inspector Damian Allain of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 0208 721 4805 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.