A POLICEMAN was arrested yesterday on suspicion of stabbing his wife to death in their bedroom.

Maria Jones, 36, mother of the couple's three children, was found dead after receiving multiple stab wounds yesterday morning.

PC Ivor Jones, 40, was arrested by police colleagues at his house in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, shortly before 8am.

The couple's three sons, aged 13, ten and eight, were being cared for by relatives yesterday.

It was not known if they were in the house at the time of the killing. They will be interviewed by specially-trained detectives.

Police scoured the area around the £250,000 detached home on Barwick Close yesterday in an attempt to find the murder weapon.

The area was sealed off and forensic officers were there for most of the day. Between 40 to 50 officers have been assigned to the case.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Stockton police were alerted by a telephone call from a member of the public, who they were planning to interview last night.

A recent message by PC Jones on the Friends Reunited website to former schoolmates at Northfield Secondary School, in Billingham, near Stockton, gives no clue as to his state of mind.

The message reads: "Now married to Maria from Burton-on-Trent with a tribe of kids that can compete with the Addams Family!!"

He goes on to say he was previously married to a former schoolmate and was still good friends with her.

Neighbours told of a seemingly happy family. Stephen Williamson, 34, said: "I saw Ivor just yesterday morning driving one of his lads to school. He looked fine. We get on quite well but he is a quite a quiet and reserved man.

"They seemed like a model family. They were Catholics and would always go to mass.

"Ivor is about 5ft 8in and is well built, and Maria was a very good looking woman, tall and slim with long dark hair. She was a hairdresser."

Another neighbour, who has known the couple as neighbours for almost ten years, said: "They've got three lovely boys who we always see playing the street.

"We never had any problems with them and you never hear a raised voice. They are both members of the Catholic Church and Ivor is a devout Catholic.

"I know he is well-respected in his job."

The murder inquiry is being led by Detective Superintendent Brian Dunn. At a news conference at Stockton police station, he said PC Jones had been an officer for at least 20 years.

He said: "A lot of people in the police service knew him and are extremely shocked.

"However, everyone is being very professional and this will be dealt with exactly the same as if it were an ordinary member of the public.

"We expect to interview him later today. We need to hear from anyone who knew Mr and Mrs Jones and had knowledge of their domestic situation.

"We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen Mrs Jones last night or heard any disturbance coming from that house last night or this morning."

A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out yesterday.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the incident room on (01642) 302387 or (01642) 302389.