A WOMAN died after being found with serious stab wounds at a house in Heaton today.

The woman, who has not been identified, was unconscious when paramedics arrived at the scene. She was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital but was dead on arrival.

Her death is being treated as suspicious and a 49-year-old man, from the Bolton area, is helping detectives with their inquiries. Police sealed off the house in The Mews, off Lincoln Road, Heaton, at 7.20am. Forensic officers were on the scene throughout the morning.

The woman is believed to have been found unconscious in the street after running out of the house. A man was trying to resuscitate her as police arrived at the home. A post mortem examination was due to be carried out later this afternoon.

Police officers are believed to have followed a car after being called to the home and arrested a 49-year-old man more than a mile and a half away in Lostock.

Police and ambulance paramedics were called to the quiet road after neighbours heard screams.

One resident said: "I don't know whether it was the woman screaming or someone who had discovered her. I looked out of my window and could see someone lying in front of the house."

Several neighbours went out on to the street to try to find out what had happened. The detached and semi-detached houses were built around five years ago on the grounds of the former Halliwell Lodge.

Police officers were searching undergrowth in the area earlier today.

A resident of nearby Hereford Road said: "I can't believe someone has been attacked. I just thought there must have been a burglary."

Neighbours said the woman was middle-aged and had a grown-up son who sometimes stayed there. A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "A woman has died after suffering fatal stab wounds. Police will be interviewing a 49-year-old man later today."

Police arrested the suspect on a car park next to the Beaumont Arms, on Armadale Road. A V-reg Volvo and T-reg Renault van were taped off as officers searched the small area.