NEIGHBOURS described their shock waking up to find a murder investigation underway in their quiet Bewdley street.

Police were called to reports of a disturbance at an address in Cherry Close shortly before 11.30pm on Sunday (September 17), and arrived to find a 45-year-old man in cardiac arrest with knife wounds to his neck and abdomen.

West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed two ambulances were sent to the scene at 11.39pm, but the victim was pronounced dead shortly after.

Evesham Journal:

Next door neighbour Matthew Winsper recalled being woken up in the middle of the night to loud voices and banging.

The father-of-two said: “I thought this isn’t just a little family argument, it’s something serious. Then about 10 minutes later the police turned up.

“There were about 12 police cars and then an ambulance and forensics team. It was like a scene from a movie with all the blue lights everywhere.

“Their dog’s been out the back all morning circling the garden with its tail between its legs like a tormented zoo animal.”

The occupants of the house, he told The Shuttle, had moved in just days before.

“It’s a family-of-three that moved in last week,” he said. “I was chatting to the dad while he was moving stuff out of the car on Saturday.

“He said he had a six-year-old little girl and we joked about being new neighbours and popping round for some sugar.”

Evesham Journal:

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said he had lived in the road for 40 years without incident.

“It’s shocking,” he said. “Nothing happens round here. Everyone knows each other and says hello. I’d never expect something like this.”

A 30-year-old man from Bewdley has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

West Mercia Police detective chief inspector Leighton Harding said: “We would very much like to speak to anyone who witnessed a disturbance either in or around Cherry Close late yesterday evening.

“If anyone saw anything that could help us establish the details of what happened, please call officers on 101, quoting 840 of September 17.”

The victim’s next of kin are being supported by specialist officers.