The mother of a murdered 21-year-old has begged witnesses to come forward to help police find her son’s killer.

Josh Hanson was killed in the early hours of Sunday, October 11 after he had visited the RE bar in Field End Road, Eastcote, with friends and his girlfriend.

He was approached by a man, who he did not know, and stabbed once in the neck in an unprovoked attack that lasted just seconds.

Paramedics frantically tried to revive him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 21-year-old, who worked as a road planner, lived at home in Kingsbury with his mother Tracey Hanson.

She said: "Josh was a son that any mother would wish for. He was a hard-working man who provided for his family. He was also carving out a promising career for himself. He had already made plans to see more of the world next year.

"He was always smiling and laughing, he made everyone laugh with his upbeat approach to life.

"For all those who met him they only had good things to say and this is being reflected in the offers of condolence to myself, his friends and family.

"Please, if you know anything, come forward and tell the police who committed this horrific murder and inform them of their whereabouts."

A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place at Uxbridge on Tuesday, October 13.

DCI McHugh said: "Josh was a hard-working young lad, up at 5am for his job as a roads planner and often working seven days a week.

“He had everything to live for and when he went out that Saturday night no one could have imagined what would happen to him. His family are in pieces."