A neighbour has spoken of the “absolute chaos” of the moments a man was fatally stabbed in a quiet residential street.

Police have launched a murder probe after a man, believed to be 31 years old, was knifed in Maguire Drive, Richmond at around 11.20pm on Thursday.

Two other males sustained what are believed to be stab wounds which are not life-threatening.

The Metropolitan Police said all three males self-presented to hospital, where the man was pronounced dead and the two others were arrested on suspicion of affray.

One neighbour, who did not want to be identified, told the PA news agency of the chaotic scene which unfolded outside his home.

He said: “I came out the house because of the noise. There was a young woman screaming and yelling for an ambulance.

“I could see a body laid out on the pavement. It looked serious from where I was. Two fast, sporty cars with young men in were whizzing about in a hurry to get out.”

Gesturing to a white 4×4 parked in the road, he added: “A black car backed at high speed with no attention or care to other cars and slammed into that white Range Rover just down there.”

“I then went and rang 999. It took me a long time to get through because they said they were extremely busy.

“The activity was continuing and by the time the police managed to turn up most of what was going on had stopped.

“I didn’t see car numbers. I couldn’t see faces. I couldn’t see what was going on up there. All I could hear was the young girls were really panicking and calling for an ambulance.

“I don’t want to exaggerate, there may have been a dozen or more people.”

Forensic investigators have been at multiple locations near the scene, including an alleyway around 100 metres away and a nearby petrol station.

Meanwhile, uniformed officers have been standing guard at the edge of a large cordon on Maguire Drive.

The deceased’s next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem examination is set to take place.

Detectives are urging anyone with information or any witnesses to call 101, quoting the reference number 8004/17Mar, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.