Tributes have been paid to a 22-year-old man who was fatally stabbed just two weeks before he was due to become a dad.

The victim, named locally as Mally, was found in Temple Hill Square, Dartford, on Saturday. He died at the scene a short time later.

He is understood to have been assaulted in a nearby communal parking area, in Mallard Close, shortly before he was discovered.

Officers are still working at the scene to establish the full circumstances and it has since been confirmed his death is being treated as murder.

Today his family paid tribute to their "loving, funny and playful beautiful boy" who was just weeks away from becoming a dad for the first time.

They vowed to continue his "legacy" and have set up a fundraiser with all donations going towards his unborn child.

In a post in which family members thanked people who rushed to his aid on Saturday, they wrote: "Right now it’s hard to put the words together. Struggling to find the words to say and writing this with a broken heart.

"This is a fundraiser for our loving, funny and playful beautiful boy who’s life and future was stolen in the most disgustingly cruel way on April 2, 2022.

"He had so much to live for. Just 22 years old, with his baby due in two weeks. He was just two weeks away from becoming a father for the first time.

"So young with his whole life ahead of him. So many broken hearts. We have lost such a huge part of us."

Commenting on the post, one Temple Hill resident said: "Such a tragedy and waste of a young life. We live in such a violent society.

"All that's left is broken hearts. So sad - we feel for the family and all concerned."

Another added: "Absolutely heartbreaking My thoughts are with family and friends. No words will take away the pain."

Police say they received a report at 7.13pm that a man had been found in the Square with a serious stomach injury caused by a stab wound.

Officers were joined by South East Coast Ambulance Service, and Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance, however he died at the scene.

A tent was put up in the street as police carried out forensic investigations yesterday and officers remain at the scene.

On Sunday the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate appealed for information and called for any witnesses who had not already spoken to officers to come forward.

Police say no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

There was still a large police presence in the town this afternoon with multiple police cars stationed on the road outside the Square, which remains blocked off. As does an adjacent car park in Mallard Close.

Speaking on Monday, a resident, who asked not to be named said: "We don't know what happened just that it happened there in the car park.

"The police asked me to move my car so they could search the bushes behind it."

She said there was loud music coming from the Square that night but was unaware that a man had been injured metres from her door.

Anyone with information which can assist, including eye witnesses and anyone with privately held CCTV or dashcam footage recorded in the area, are urged to contact Kent Police on 01474 366149 quoting 02-1033 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by using the online form on its website.