TV star's brother stabbed to death

The teenage brother of a soap star was stabbed to death in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police said they believed 16-year-old Ben Kinsella, brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke, was stabbed after an argument with a group of youths. Two 16-year-olds were arrested yesterday near the scene in Islington, north London, and remain in custody.

Family and friends, including Birds of a Feather actress Linda Robson, later laid flowers at the scene.

Friend David Dugdale, 17, said the teenager had called him just before he died: "He called and just said 'help'. "He sounded really scared and then it just clicked off."

Bob Hamlyn, Ben's headteacher at Holloway School said: "He was a bright kid, very high-achieving ... and would have had some good results to look forward to this summer."

The killing takes the number of teenage deaths by violence in London this year to 17. Ben is thought to have been at a party at a nearby pub before trouble broke out. After the stabbing one witness described seeing him lying in a pool of blood where paramedics tried to resuscitate him.

He was rushed to The Whittington hospital where he died. His family will issue a statement today.