Bloodied knife sparks body find

A woman in her 60s was found dead at the property

A woman's body was found after police arrested a man in London covered in blood an carrying a bloody knife.

The victim, believed to be in her 60s, was found in Station Road, Finchley, at about 0300 BST on Friday.

Officers discovered the body after arresting a 44-year-old man at nearby Finchley Central Tube station at 0235 BST on suspicion of murder.

He was confronted by Tube staff when he was seen, apparently drunk, with blood on his clothes entering a car.

Rail workers held him until police arrived but there was no struggle, police said.

Det Insp Dick Turner said: "We appreciate the public spiritedness of the Tube workers who called police having observed the male.

"The male appeared to them to be intoxicated and when he entered his car, they took the keys from him to prevent him driving. I am pleased to say that there was no struggle and no one was injured.

Screaming heard

"The knife was recovered, away from the vehicle by officers."

A spokeswoman for Tube Lines, maintenance contractors for London Underground, said: "We are very proud of our people for acting so fast and bravely."

A neighbour of the dead woman said she heard a woman screaming during the night and said her husband had seen a man and a woman arguing in the street.

The victim has not yet been formally identified.

London Underground said Finchley Central station was currently closed due to the police investigation.

Cordons also remain in place near the flat where the body was discovered.