POLICE are continuing a murder hunt after a 66-year old man was stabbed to death at his home in Maidstone.

Police officers discovered the man after being called to a house in Kingsley Road at around 10.30pm on Tuesday.

He was taken to Maidstone Hospital but doctors were unable to save him. He died an hour later.

A postmortem on Wednesday confirmed that he had died from multiple stab wounds.

Detectives yesterday today named the victim as Richard Cromarty, a single man who lived alone in a top-floor bedsit.

Residents woke up on Wednesday to find their homes surrounded by police tape as the murder investigation got under way.

The road was sealed off with residents barred from moving their cars until forensic experts had completed their hunt for clues.

Police are currently examining footage from a security camera, which may reveal the identity of a man seen entering and leaving the house at the time of the attack.

Neighbours described the victim as a quiet, polite man who has kept himself to himself. Relatives have been informed.

Kevin Hicks, 48, who lives opposite the murder scene returned home at about 11.20pm to find the street swarming with police.

He said: “It was a gruesome sight. Officers were knocking on doors and asking if anyone had seen anything. Sadly we couldn’t help them.”

Det Ch Insp Martin Harris, leading the investigation, said: “We will look at any evidence that could lead us to the killer, especially of the CCTV variety but it is too early to say if it will offer any significant clues.

“As with any investigation of this kind we will be looking at people known or connected to the victim and that is exactly what we are doing.

“It is possible the attack took place inside the flat and that he staggered outside in the street and sought assistance afterwards.

“But we are keeping an open mind and are trying to piece it together.”

Detectives are keen to speak to anyone with information that could help track down the killer, in particular former lodgers at number 67, Kingsley Road.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 01622 608075 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.