A man has been charged with the murder of his 89-year-old grandmother.

The Metropolitan Police said Verushan Manoharan, 31, of Kingsley Road in Croydon was charged on Wednesday evening and is due to appear in custody at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The victim, who was found with stab wounds at a residential address in Brigstock Road, in Thornton Heath on Tuesday, has been named as Sakunthala Francis.

Her family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, while a postmortem examination will take place later, the Met said.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said Sakunthala would use a nearby bank where she worked and was a “lovely lady”.

A neighbour, who also did not want to be identified, said: “It’s so scary, right on my doorstep.”