MURDER cops were quizzing a man last night after an 88-year-old great-grand****** was brutally stabbed to death in her tower block flat.

Neighbours told how they heard screams from frail Irene Barratt's 15th-floor home at 6.30am yesterday - and found the door open and the walls "dripping in blood".

Det Chief Insp Cliff Lyons, leading the inquiry, said: "At this early stage we believe this is a burglary which has escalated into murder."

Sally Archer, 26, who lives in the block in Charlton, south-east London, said: "Everyone was in bed when we heard shouting and screaming. When we got to her flat the walls were dripping in blood - it looked like something out of a horror film.

"Police arrived very quickly and told us that Irene had been butchered by an intruder."

Another shocked resident, John Moore, 57, said Irene, believed to have been a retired secretary, was "the ultimate pillar of the community." He added: "To hear Irene has been killed makes my blood run cold. Why anyone would want to kill such a lovely, caring woman is beyond me.

"She had three grandchildren and she was devoted to her family. She was also a very caring neighbour.

"She was heavily involved in the Over 55s club and despite her age was always running day trips for the elderly. People desperately want to find out who has done this to this lovely woman."

Fighting back tears, neighbour Claire Pickett, 30, added: "I just don't understand how anyone could do this. She was such a lovely lady. She used to knit blankets for premature babies and even made a blanket for my baby when it was born. She was like a grand****** for all the young children here."

Neighbours said that Irene had at least one son and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As forensic teams searched the area around the block, overlooking Charlton Athletic FC's stadium, police revealed they had arrested a man aged 34.