A murder investigation has been launched after a 53-year-old man was beaten to death on an estate in Battersea.

The man, who has been identified as Julian Kempsey, was found unconscious on Sunday evening (July 16) in Youngs Court, Doddington estate, Battersea Park Road.

He was taken to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital where he died from head injuries on Monday afternoon (July 17).

A post-mortem revealed the cause of death to be head injuries consistent with a blunt instrument.

The murder has shocked the community and people on the estate are coming to terms with the discovery.

Most residents said Mr Kempsey was a quiet man who kept himself to himself.

One shopkeeper, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "He was a nice man who used to buy cans of lager from here and newspapers too, not the tabloids but the Times.

"He also used to come and watch the football in here with us."

Mr Kempsey was a white man, who often wore jeans and a T-shirt. He had grey hair and apparently suffered from a bad back.

Anthony Mucaj, owner of a pub on the estate called The Grove, said "It's sad to see a life gone."

Although there are whispers around the estate about what happened, none of the details have been confirmed.

Residents have reported that the Doddington estate is riddled with crime and one of the major problems they face is antisocial behaviour.

One resident, who asked not be named, said "muggings on the estate are common and the CCTV seems to catch nothing. It's not just at night either, these muggings happen anytime of the day."

Police stayed on the Doddington estate until the Tuesday after the murder, in order to collect evidence and speak to residents for help with their inquiries.

q A man has since been charged with the murder of Mr Kempsey.

Dean Gray, 23, of Youngs Court, Charlotte Despard Avenue, Doddington Estate appeared at South West Magistrates Court last Thursday (July 20).

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on October 28.