Detectives investigating the murders of two French students have said they might have died for the sake of two handheld games consoles.

The bodies of Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez were discovered in a burnt-out bedsit in southeast London. They had been bound, gagged and stabbed to death.

A pathologist later documented 243 separate injuries to their badly-burned bodies. Mr Bonomo suffered 80 wounds after he had died.

Detectives believe the pair may have been the victims of a savage robbery as two Sony PSP consoles were stolen from Mr Bonomo's rented flat.

They fear a set of keys to the flat, which were stolen in a burglary six days earlier, may have enabled the attacker to surprise his victims.

Officers said they are hunting for a white man seen running the rented bedsit London moments after it exploded.

One source said officers were still unsure if one or more people were involved. But he added: "We expect to make an arrest sooner rather than later."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the force had received about 25 calls in relation to the murders and officers are "in the process of following these up".

A police spokesman said: "We believe that some items may have been taken from the flat and they may include two new Sony PSP handheld games consoles and two mobile phones."

He said the make and model of the phones was not known.

The detective responsible for the inquiry said the injuries were the worst he had ever seen and left everyone involved in the investigation "deeply shocked".

Police said Mr Bonomo, of Velaux, and Mr Ferez, of Prouzel, are "entirely innocent", with no criminal background in France or the UK.

Firefighters discovered the men's bodies after smashing their way into the burning ground-floor flat in Sterling Gardens, New Cross.

Neighbours dialled 999 after an explosion blew the windows out and ignited a fierce blaze shortly after 10pm on Sunday.

Investigators believe a petrol-like accelerant was poured on or near their bodies, possibly in a bid to destroy evidence.

Det Chief Insp Mick Duthie said: "The extent of the injuries are horrific. Everyone working on this case, including myself, has been deeply shocked by what we have seen."

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