Teenager stabbed to death

An 18-year-old woman was stabbed to death during a late-night disturbance, police said today.

The victim, from the Wallsend area, near Newcastle, was involved in a disturbance in a lane between Victoria Avenue and Albert Avenue, Wallsend, at around 11.50pm.

Northumbria Police said a murder investigation is under way and a man and woman have been arrested in connection with the death.

A police spokesman said the victim, who has not been named, suffered stab wounds and died later.

The area where the incident took place was cordoned off this morning and forensic scientists were examining the scene.

Northumbria Police said a post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out later today.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson, leading the murder inquiry, said: "There was clearly some sort of disturbance going on which has led to a young woman losing her life.

"I particularly want to hear from anyone who was in Victoria Avenue, Albert Avenue, Harle Street and the area of Park Road around this time."

Chief Superintendent Steve Storey, area commander for North Tyneside, added: "I'd like to reassure the local community around Wallsend, and particularly the town centre, that although this is a very serious crime, this is certainly not common for the area.

"Our neighbourhood policing teams will be continuing with their regular duties to maintain levels of reassurance over the coming days."

Officers wearing white paper suits and plastic covers on their shoes were examining the murder scene.

More than 10 plastic markers on the ground showed evidence of bloodstains on the road surface.

Police tape cordoned off several streets of terraced houses just off busy Station Road.

Uniformed officers kept guard in the surrounding streets, both reassuring the public and protecting the crime scene.

The teenager was stabbed not far from Wallsend Boys' Club, where Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley honed their football skills.