A woman in her 50s is in a critical condition after being attacked with an axe.

A 47-year-old man, who is known to the victim, was arrested at the scene in Princes Road, Ilford, on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to a report of a woman attacked with an axe inside a residential address shortly after 2pm on Friday.

She was found seriously injured and taken to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition, the Metropolitan Police said.

The force said a number of suspects are believed to have left the address before police arrived and detectives are appealing for any witnesses, or anyone with dashcam footage from the area on Friday afternoon, to contact them on 101 or through Crimestoppers.

A Met spokesperson said: "At this early stage, it is believed that the incident is primarily domestic in nature. The woman and the man arrested are known to each other. Enquiries continue."

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