Police have launched a murder investigation after a 63-year-old man was stabbed to death in Hastings on Friday.

Ambulance crews alerted officers after finding fatally injured Michael Willard in Caves Road, St Leonards, at 4.40pm.

Despite efforts to treat his knife wounds, Mr Willard, a local businessman, later died at Conquest Hospital, Hastings.

Police have launched Operation Granary, headed by Detective Chief Inspector Andy Buchan.

Mr Buchan said: "Michael Willard was a very private man who ran his business for many years.

"Understandably his family are distraught and our sympathy is with them at this time.

"I appeal to anybody who may have seen anything suspicious between 4pm and 5pm in the Caves Road and Gloucester Gardens area to contact me.

"The person or persons responsible may well have had bloodstained clothing.

"We are also still searching for the weapon and would ask people in the area to check their gardens and rubbish bins."

Anyone with information should contact the Operation Granary incident room on 0845 6070999.