The family of a 24-year-old woman who was stabbed with a pair of scissors are keeping a vigil at her bedside after the incident in a Sidcup home.

Neighbours heard Gemma Foot screaming 'help me, help me' from the house in Cleve Road just after 11.30pm on Thursday (April 24).

Emergency services rushed to the scene and taped off the house- a police helicopter also spent much of the night looking for a man who was seen running away from the scene.

A family member, who didn't want to be named, said: "It has been horrendous, we are just concentrating on her getting better.

"She is still critical but stable. We have all been at her bedside and are just praying that she gets better soon."

A female neighbour in her forties, who asked not to be named, said: "My daughter woke up with someone shouting 'help me, help me' at about 11.45pm.

"We got up and the helicopters were going mad.

"There were about five police cars, a car from the air ambulance and the paramedics. Someone was really badly hurt.

"It's shocking really, nothing like that ever happens around here."

The victim had been at home with her partner when the suspect entered the property and she was attacked with a pair of scissors.

The suspect also attacked the victim's partner Keith Cooper inflicting stab wounds on him before fleeing from the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Holmes from Bexley Police, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is an appalling crime against an innocent young lady and her partner.

"I would like to reassure the community of Bexley that attacks of this nature are extremely rare.

"The safety of the residents of Bexley Borough is and always will be our number one policing priority. Protecting the public is our total commitment.

"Bexley police officers worked tirelessly throughout the night and this has resulted in the arrest."

Chelsea King, 26, who lives in the road, added: "I heard the helicopter for about an hour circling the meadows which are just behind our houses.

"It is a really quiet street with lots of elderly people so it was quite shocking to see this kind of thing when I was taking my child to school.

"The house was taped off and I saw police men in blue forensics suits going in and out of the house."

A spokesman for London Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 11.30pm to reports of an incident in Cleve Road. We sent an ambulance crew, two responders by car and a doctor from the air ambulance by car."

Conor Fox, 37, of no fixed address, has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated burglary in connection with the incident.

He appeared at Bexley Magistates Court today and was remanded in custody.

He will next appear at the Inner London Crown Court on May 12 for a preliminary hearing.