The owner of a fast food shop said he desperately tried to save the life of a 25-year-old girl who came into his shop fatally stabbed and covered in blood.

Naveed Mohsin, 45, owner of Pizza and Chicken 4 U in Ilford Lane, Ilford tried to give first aid to the woman while waiting for ambulance crews to arrive.

He had left work for the night and was in his car at about midnight when his friend banged on the window saying a woman was badly hurt in his shop.

Mr Mohsin ran back to the shop and was given a mobile phone by one of his staff so he could speak to the ambulance operator.

“She was on the floor and was covered in blood but we couldn’t see where it was coming from. The ambulance people kept asking me what happened but I was very very shocked. They told me to me check that she was breathing.”

Moments before the woman had stumbled into the shop, residents said they had heard a loud argument in the street.

“We did what anyone in our situation has to try to do,” he said. “We did out best to save her life but unfortunately we could not.”

Paramedics worked on the shop floor to try and save the woman but she later died at about 2am at Royal London Hospital.

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 not known when it will be lifted.

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.

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.