ONE of the three women injured on the night a neighbour was stabbed to death has paid tribute to her.

Police officers found Heidi Scales with cuts to her hand when they attended an address on Saturday evening, in Jonquil Drive, Little Hulton.

She spoke of her shock just days after Jacqueline Probert, who lives across the street, died from a deep cut to her neck.

Mrs Scales said: "Jacqueline was a lovely, friendly person. My husband and I would see her in the street and she always had a smile for us.

"We've lived here for 14 years and she was living here when we first moved."

Thomas Bevan, who lives opposite Mrs Scales, and is Mrs Probert's next door neighbour, appeared at Salford Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with murder.

He will appear at Manchester Crown Court next Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

It emerged today that the second woman injured, who suffered a wound to her head, was the defendant's wife, Ann Bevan.

Mrs Probert's husband, Bernard, has been away from the house for most of the time since the incident.

The couple have two older children who no longer live with them.

Mrs Scales added: "It was a real shock to learn that Jacqueline had died. People round here don't expect something like this to happen. It's a very secluded and quiet area and a lovely place to live. It happens in other places, but not here."

A police van was still outside Mrs Probert's home yesterday as neighbours attempted to come to terms with last weekend's events.

Another neighbour said: "Jacqueline and her husband were a quiet couple who kept themselves to themselves.

"It was such a shock because it's the last thing you'd expect round here on a Saturday night."