.A 79-year-old man, named as Don Lock, was stabbed on the A24, last night
.Suspect got out of his 'classic car' in front and knifed him before fleeing
.Paramedics tried to save the grandfather but he died at roadside at 8.40pm
.A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder by armed officers
Police have arrested a 34-year-old man on suspicion of murder after a 79-year-old grandfather was brutally stabbed to death in an alleged road rage attack after he shunted the back of his classic car.
Don Lock, from Worthing, West Sussex, was killed on the A24 near the village of Findon, just before 8.40pm last night.
The attacker got out of his 'pale-coloured' car and rowed with Mr Lock before stabbing him repeatedly at the side of the road and driving off, police say.
Don Lock, 79, was stabbed to death at the side of the A24 near Findon, West Sussex, at 8.40pm last night
Mr Lock (pictured centre, pushing the bike) was an active member of his local cycling team Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club
He had been a member of the club for more than 60 years and recently worked in the role as press secretary
Mr Lock's granddaughter (left) arrives at the scene of the incident to lay flowers in tribute to the pensioner
A floral tribute from the victim's granddaughter describes him as a 'very special grandad, my only grandad'
The elderly victim, John Lock, was named by friend John Lucas (left) as he went to lay a tribute at the scene
A cyclist and a runner embrace at the side of the road where the incident happened on the A24 at Findon
Police have arrested a 34-year-old man over the stabbing following a suspected road rage incident
An air ambulance crew and paramedics desperately carried out first aid on the grandfather but he died at the roadside.
Speaking at the scene, John Lucas, who had known Mr Lock for more than 50 years, said: 'It's such a terrible thing.
'He was an unbelievable guy. He would do anything for anyone. I can't understand how it happened.
'He wouldn't have got out of the car and caused any trouble at all. He wasn't that type of guy. He has been in the cycling club - Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club - more than 60 years.'
His grandson Ashley Goodlad, 25, also of Worthing, wrote an emotional plea and urged members of the public to contact police.
He said: 'If anyone knows anything about this please get in touch with me or the police, this sick person has taken away the best granddad anyone could wish for, I still can't believe this is real it has torn my family apart with.
'He was the kindest, softest and most generous man you could ever wish to meet, it's just so confusing right now just trying to work out an answer for why this has happened.'
Excelsior club membership secretary, Mick Irons, said Mr Lock would be sorely missed.
'I learnt about the news this morning. He will be a great loss to the club. He had been seen around cycling recently,' he said.
Police have confirmed that the pensioner was travelling alone on the remote patch of road, just four miles from the large seaside town of Worthing.
The knifeman's car is said to be a 'pale-coloured old style vehicle'.
A floral tribute lies against a tree close to the scene of the collision, which happened at around 8.40pm last night
The stabbing happened opposite the turning for Findon and Wyevale Garden Centre on the A24 yesterday
The attacker is said to have got out of his classic car and rowed with the 79-year-old motorist before stabbing him to death and driving off
The scene remains cordoned off today while investigations continue to trace the suspect, who was said to be driving a 'pale-coloured' car
The suspect, who was driving an 'old-style car', drove off afterwards
Paramedics attended the collision on the A24 at Findon following the incident just before 8.40pm last night
Helicopter Emergency Medical doctors also attended the stabbing and desperately tried to save the man
Despite desperate attempts by medics, the victim, whose identity has not been revealed, died at the scene
The elderly victim is believed to have been travelling on his own on the dual carriageway through the remote village of Findon
The air ambulance (pictured) was also on the scene to assist but it was too late to save the pensioner
Police interview witnesses who were at the scene shortly before 9pm yesterday evening as the road was closed for a forensic investigation
Detective Superintendent Adam Hibbert, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: 'Mr Lock was the victim of a frenzied attack that he had no chance to defend himself against.
'The attacker has then driven off but at this stage we have a limited description of his vehicle.
'We are looking for an extremely dangerous man and need the public's help to identify and arrest him urgently.'
He believes the murderer could have been covered in blood and suspect his car may have been soaked too and urged anyone with information to come forward.
John Meesschaert, 73, who lives directly outside the scene of the attack, told The Argus he was walking back from the nearby Black Horse pub when he saw the pair parked up.
'My wife and I were celebrating my birthday at the pub. We walked back home and saw cars in the road with just their indicators flashing.
'It must have been shortly after the stabbing, because there were no emergency vehicles at that point.
'It was pretty gruesome. The guy was in a bad state. There was blood everywhere. It was not a nice way to celebrate my birthday.'
Officers are also said to be analysing footage taken 50 minutes after the stabbing, which shows a car travelling the wrong way down the A24.
They have been unable to confirm whether this was the suspect's car driving away from the scene, though the motorist that filmed it doesn't believe it is connected.
A cyclist and a runner were seen in tears at the scene of the death while a section of the A24 southbound at the junction of Cross Lane remains closed and a diversion is in place.
The collision happened on the A24 at Findon, West Sussex, (shown on map) shortly after 8.30pm last night
A section of the A24 southbound at the junction of Cross Lane, Findon, remains closed and a diversion is in place
The 79-year-old was stabbed multiple times after his car is said to have 'bumped' the suspects old-fashioned motor
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward and particularly if anyone filmed the incident or saw anyone filming it
Residents have been left stunned by the murder, describing the area as a 'lovely little village' that is a 'very quiet community'
Officers are also said to be analysing footage taken 50 minutes after the stabbing, which shows a car travelling the wrong way down the A24
A witness who lives opposite the scene said it was 'pretty gruesome' and there was 'blood everywhere'
The murder has stunned residents in the village of Findon, which has been described as a 'very quiet community' in the South Downs National Park.
Laura Muchmore, 21, who works in a garden centre close to the murder scene, said: 'It's really shocking for an area like this. Nothing ever happens round here.
'And it's especially shocking that the victim was an old man. Findon is a really lovely little village. It's so picturesque and it's not known for this type of crime.'
Another resident, who declined to be named, said: 'It's horrendous. It's such a quiet little village and so unusual for something like this to happen.'
Reverend Helena Buque, from St John the Baptist parish church in the village, described the village as a 'very quiet community'.
'There is a sense of shock it has happened,' she said. 'A sense of disbelief - and profound sadness for the family of the man who lost his life. Our prayers are with them.'
Yasmin Streeter, 54, who lives on Cross Lane near the scene, said: 'We were having a cup of tea last night and then we heard the air ambulance fly over.
'Helicopters have been going overhead this morning and there have been other sirens.
'They have shut off Findon Road and it has been quite busy here as all the traffic is coming through - it's just been a constant stream of cars.'
The suspect is described as a white man, aged between 30 and 40, 6', skinny with shoulder length brown wavy hair with a thin face
Officers from Sussex Police remain at the scene this morning as they urgently making enquiries to trace the suspect
Police say specially trained officers are supporting the victims family 'at this extremely difficult time'
Maddie Kelly was arriving at her boyfriend's house close to the scene at the the time of the incident last night.
She said: 'I saw four or five people stood in the road just past his house however I couldn't see what had happened in the road.
'I was suspicious but thought perhaps they were trying to cross, so I went inside.
'It is truly a shocking story and has happened so close to home. It's such an awful incident I do hope they catch this man and my thoughts are with the family or friends of the victim.'
Locals have also taken to social media to express their shock at the murder and pay tribute to the pensioner.
On Facebook, Carolyne Rich said: 'Horrendous and very worrying that the perpetrator is out there somewhere.'
Blaise Tapp wrote on Twitter: 'Terrible things can happen anywhere. Dreadful news about the suspected road rage fatal stabbing in #Findon. Prayers with victim's loved ones.'
Edmund King, president of the AA, has described it as a 'horrific and tragic incident' and offered his condolences to the family.
'Thankfully such brutal 'road rage' attacks are generally a rare occurrence on our highways in the UK,' he said.
'Our advice to drivers is always to back down and try to avoid confrontation with other drivers out there.
'If you feel threatened by another driver it is best to drive to a police station or safe place rather than to stop to confront the driver.
'It appears that some drivers do react differently when they are behind the wheel than they would if they were walking down the street.
'They almost feel that the car empowers them but in reality it does not. There is never any excuse or justification for a driving dispute to end in violence.'
Two police vehicles were parked within a cordon where the murder occurred but the cars had been removed
Police say inquiries are ongoing today while a section of the dual carriageway, where the murder happened, remains closed
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