A young man who was knifed through the heart off bustling Walthamstow High Street on Saturday afternoon may have been a victim of road rage.

Police believe Denzil Sutherland, 24, was stabbed during an argument with three men at the junction of Erskine Road and Eldon Road, between 1.30pm and 2.30pm. The area was full of weekend shoppers, but so far none has contacted police to offer any clues to the brutal killing, and the detective leading the murder hunt has appealed for those witnesses to get in touch. The three attackers fled the murder scene.

Suffering from several stab wounds to his chest, Mr Sutherland managed to get back into his car and drive to the house he shared with his mother and 12-year-old sister in Century Road.

Once there, he then crashed into another car, before getting out and collapsing on the pavement outside his front door. He was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital where he later died.

Part of Erskine Road was cordoned off on Monday while police searched the area, and carried out door-to-door inquiries. Police also searched nearby drains for the murder weapon. Mr Sutherland's car, a green Fiat Coupe registration R754 AHK, was taken away for forensic examination.

Leading the murder hunt, DCI Vic Rae said at this early stage the murder may have been the result of a minor road accident and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

He said: "At the moment it seems to have been an unprovoked attack. But if it is true that this was over a minor road traffic accident, then this is a tragic course of events for what was a very minor incident.

"A young man in the prime of his life has had that life taken away from him over nothing."

DCI Rae added: "I believe this crime can be solved by the public. At the height of a busy market day there must have been a number of people who witnessed this incident, and I would urge them to come forward."

Police also want to hear from people who may have seen Mr Sutherland driving his car on Saturday afternoon.

A post mortem on Monday gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds. An inquest will be held at a later date.

An incident room has been set up at Barking under DCI Rae. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

To jog the public's memories, DCI Rae and his team are holding an appeal at the murder scene in Erskine Road, Walthamstow, between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Saturday.