A MAN has been arrested and charged with murder after a 25-year-old man was stabbed and killed in the early hours of Saturday morning in Ilford.

Jaspreet Singh, 25, was attacked shortly before 1am in Chapel Road and taken by ambulance to King George's Hospital in Goodmayes where he died.

Police say that Mr Singh and a friend had stepped off a 123 bus outside Greggs the bakers in Ilford town centre and walked to a bus stop in Chapel Road where they planned to get a night bus.

While at the stop he got involved in an argument with another man who stabbed him before running off. A post mortem gave cause of death as a single stab wound to the heart.

The officer leading the investigation, DCI John MacDonald from the homicide and serious crime command said: "We believe that there were people at the bus stop who witnessed the altercation who then got on the 369 bus at around 1am on Saturday, March 31. We need these people to come forward.

"We also know that the suspect ran off into Clements Road. It is here that he may have bumped into a young man and woman who were out together for the night. We would urge them to speak to us. The woman is described as light skinned, with long dark hair. She wore a blue dress and knee-high dark boots.

"The man is described as having short dark hair, wearing a white long sleeved top and blue jeans."

"We previously appealed for the victim's friend, whom we believe was at the bus stop at the time of the murder, to come forward. Police have now spoken with him."

A 19-year-old Ilford man appeared at Redbridge magistrates court this morning charged with the murder of Mr Singh. He was remanded in custody and committed to appear at the Old Bailey on July 9.

The stabbing took place just yards from the underpass where Ilford teenager Kashif Mahmood was fatally stabbed in September 2005.

Anyone with information about the latest attack is asked to contact the incident room at Hertford House, Barking on 8345 3985, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.