A 59-YEAR-OLD man who was stabbed to death in a suspected homophobic attack in Bickley has been named by police.

The victim has yet to be formally identified but officers say he was Gerry Edwards, of Page Heath Villas.

Police were called to Page Heath Villas at 8.05pm on Tuesday evening (March 3) and found a 59-year-old man suffering from stab wounds He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

A second man, believed to be 56-year-old Chris Bevan, was taken to a south London hospital with stab wounds where he remains in a critical condition.

It is believed the two men were a couple and had been living together for a number of years.

Valerie Carson used to live next door to the couple for five years until moving out in 1995.

She said: "You couldn't wish for better neighbours.

"We still exchange Christmas cards and they were just wonderful people.

"We still liked to visit them when we could.

"Gerry was a lovely person and we are going to miss him very much. I just hope Chris makes it through."

Mrs Carson was at the scene this morning (March 5) laying flowers and says that when she moved into Page Heath Villas in 1989 Mr Bevan and Mr Edwards were already a couple.

A post mortem examination will take place at Greenwich mortuary this afternoon.

Police at the scene say the road could remain behind a cordon for the rest of today (March 5).

Detectives are gathering CCTV footage from the area as part of the investigation.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons said: "We are keeping an open mind regarding a motive for the attack.

"We have found no evidence of a break in and we are not ruling out that it may have been a homophobic attack.”

A police spokesman says no incidents of homophobic crime have been reported in the area recently.

Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries should call 020 8721 4961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.