A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a stabbing victim was declared dead in the first minutes of 2018.

West Mercia Police said a woman who had suffered what is believed to be a knife injury was pronounced dead at an address in Bromsgrove at 12.12am.

A 49-year-old local man was arrested at the scene in Cloverdale after police were called to the property at 11.52pm on New Year's Eve.

The woman's next of kin has been informed of her death, a police spokesman said.

Anyone with information that could assist the police inquiry is urged to call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Neighbours said five police vehicles and an ambulance pulled up outside the semi-detached property as fireworks were let off in surrounding streets to mark the new year.

Local resident Paul Cross said a man wearing pyjama bottoms was led away from the house in the Stoke Prior area of Bromsgrove shortly after midnight and put into a police van.

Mr Cross, 60, said: "A couple live there who had two adult sons. What has happened is extremely sad - it's not the sort of thing you expect round where we live."

One neighbour said the couple had lived at the house for around seven years, but she only knew their first names after living nearby for around three years.

"They kept themselves to themselves and I only knew them to say hello to," the woman said.