A 25-year-old Romanian woman who was fatally stabbed staggered into a fast food restaurant in Ilford Lane moments before she collapsed to the floor.

The woman who, has not yet been officially identified, fell to the floor in Pizza and Chicken 4 U at about midnight.

She was given first aid by paramedics before being taken to Royal London Hospital where she died during surgery at about 2am.

No arrests have been made.

A 64-year-old woman who lives opposite the fast food restaurant said: “There was someone lying in the chicken shop but I could just see their feet.

“They pulled the shutters down because people were staring. I’ve never seen so many police in my life.”

The woman said that she saw 10 police cars and police dogs searching the area.

“I was watching everything going on,” she added. “There were lots of people loitering around the area. It was bound to happen. It’s so unsafe round here and is full of prostitutes.”

“I saw a girl outside the chicken shop screaming. I think her friend was inside bleeding on the floor, and there were about 20 men outside.”

The woman said the whole area was cordoned off by 4am. It is likely this will remain in place until this afternoon.

She added: “I can’t go out my house - I have to ask the police permission to leave.”

Police have launched a murder investigation and believe the incident happened on the junction of Ilford Lane and Loxford Lane.

Police were called by London Ambulance Service at around 12.15am to reports of a woman injured.

Harbans Kahlom, 55, who works at B&K builders merchants on Ilford Lane, said he spoke to the owner of the shop this morning.

He said: “The owner called the ambulance and told them what had happened and they told him how to stop the bleeding.

“He said the woman came stumbling up to the chicken shop and just fell. He didn’t know what had happened, there was a lot of blood on the floor.

“He thought she was partially gone as she had lost a lot of blood. They did a lot to see if they could save her. They were operating on the floor and tried to revive her.”

The identity of the woman is not yet known but a councillor for Loxford ward said he had been told she a prostitute.

Cllr Filly Maravala said: “Redbridge is not a safe as people think it is despite crime figures going down.”

The road remains closed in both directions around the scene in Ilford Lane near the junction with Loxford Lane and Southbourne Gardens.

The Ilford Lane end of Elstree Gardens, Harvey Road, Norman Road and Loxford Lane are all cordoned off and Loxford Polyclinic is closed.

A diversion is in place affecting bus routes 169, 366, EL1 and EL2 and cordons are expected to remain in place until late afternoon.

Do you know what happened? Email amanda.nunn@archant.co.uk, call 020 8477 3826 or tweet us @ilfordrecorder.