Police launch murder investigation after man is found stabbed to death in property in Gateshead

A murder investigation has been launched after a man was found stabbed to death at a property in Gateshead.

Officers were called to Elliott Drive in the Felling area of the Tyne and Wear town just after 9.10pm on Saturday, April 27.

Emergency services attended the scene and found a 40-year-old man who was pronounced dead shortly after despite an ambulance arriving on the scene.

Northumbria Police said his next of kin had been informed and were being supported by specially-trained officers.

Officers said an investigation is underway and inquiries into the circumstances around the man's death are ongoing.

Pictures from the crime scene on Sunday, April 28, show officers in white forensic overalls coming out of police vans.

A cordon was also put up around the scene of the crime while detectives made inquiries. 

A heavy police presence remained in place throughout the day on Sunday with cars and vans parked outside.

Locals report the area being taped off all night and the police carrying out door knocks asking if anyone had heard anything.

Andrew Duffie, whose home backs onto the scene of the investigation, said police had taken his home CCTV camera footage.

The 87-year-old told ChronicleLive: 'They have been and they have taken 15 hours of footage from my cameras. They wouldn't tell us what happened. I asked them but they said they couldn't say anything. I take it it's serious. It looks that way.'

Detective Superintendent Jane Fairlamb of Northumbria Police said: 'I offer my condolences to the family and loved ones of the man who lost his life.

'Enquiries are at an early stage, and we do believe all parties involved are known to each other and there is no wider threat to the public.

'A cordon is in place and officers remain at the scene and across the wider area as part of the ongoing investigation, and as ever, we would ask anyone with information to assist our investigation to get in touch.

'I also urge people to refrain from sharing speculation on social media which could jeopardise our active enquiries.

'As ever, we would ask anyone with information to assist our investigation or anybody who saw anything suspicious in the area on Saturday to get in touch.'

A North East Ambulance Service spokesman told The Norther Echo: 'We received a call at 9.07pm on Saturday, April 27, to reports of an incident in the Felling area.

'We sent two emergency ambulance crews, a duty officer, a clinical team leader and three hazardous area response teams.

'We took one male patient to a major trauma centre for further treatment.'