A man died in a pool of blood after being stabbed through the heart in a fight on a city council estate last night.

Neighbours heard shouts and the revving of car engines before police raced to Birdham Road, in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, at 8pm.

The 27-year-old victim staggered several yards along the street, shouting at his attackers, before collapsing on the pavement.

He was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where surgeons battled in vain to save his life.

Witnesses said they had seen one member of a group gathered outside a semi-detached house brandishing a samurai sword.

They said the others fled from the scene after seeing the stabbing.

The victim is believed to come from Brighton and had just returned to the city after spending time in Leeds.

A man was arrested in the early hours of today and is helping police with their inquiries.

This morning a section of the road was cordoned off as police collected evidence.

A yellow and white police tent covered the spot where the young man fell dying.

The places where witnesses to the attack had been standing at the time of the fatal blow were carefully numbered.

Buses were diverted away from the street and residents had to check with police before entering or leaving homes within the cordon.

Police were also on guard outside another maisonette further down the road.

One of the neighbours said: "There was a lot of shouting in the street and cars were driving up and down.

"We did not know what it was about and then, at around 9pm, the whole area was swarming with police."

Another witness said: "It was a fight that got out of hand. One lot were blaming the other for a recent burglary."

The stabbing was the second violent death on the estate in recent months. In September, James Duggan, a 50-year-old plumber, collapsed and died following an all-night party in Halland Road. Eighteen-year-old Lee Simmons, of Ashurst Road, has been charged with his murder and awaits trial.

The ambulance crew called last night had police protection as they reached the murder victim. A Sussex Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "The crew was asked by police to wait until officers in protective clothing arrived. They were delayed only very briefly as a precaution."

Detective Chief Inspector Reg Hooke of the Sussex Police Major Crime Branch, asked witnesses or anyone with information to contact Brighton and Hove CID on 0845 6070 999.