A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man assaulted outside a pub in Putney in the early hours of Sunday morning (December 9).

Police were called at around 00.30am yesterday to a fight near to the Duke's Head pub in Lower Richmond Road, next to the River Thames.

Officers and London Ambulance Service (LAS) attended the scene and a 46-year-old man was taken to a south London hospital suffering serious head injuries.

The man's condition was described by the ambulance service as "critical" yesterday but he deteriorated raidly and was pronounced dead shortly before 6pm.

Officers from the Homicide & Serious Crime Command are investigating and an incident room has opened at Lewisham police station under Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn.

DCI Gwyn said: "We are appealing for anyone who was in or around the area of the Duke's Head pub in Lower Richmond Road after midnight that may have seen or heard anything, to call our incident room or Crimestoppers."

Although his family have been informed of his death, formal identification has yet to take place.

A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

No arrests have been at this point and police are continuing their enquiries.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that may assist police should call the incident room on 020 8721 4805 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.