Richard Mannington Bowes, the man left in a critical condition after being attacked while trying to put out a fire during riots in the west London suburb of Ealing, has died, Scotland Yard said early on Friday.

Bowes, 68, died in hospital last night after he was set upon in Springbridge Road during Monday's disorder. The Metropolitan police said a murder investigation had been launched.

Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane, of the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "This was a brutal incident that resulted in the senseless killing of an innocent man. I still need the assistance of the community who may have witnessed the attack on Richard to come forward and provide information or images they may have recorded on mobile devices. This information could be crucial in catching his killer."