THE bloodstained body of a woman was found in a house after a night out celebrating her birthday.

Paramedics discovered 38-year-old Susan Carr at about 4.30am yesterday in the bedroom of a home in The Middles, near Stanley, County Durham.

Detectives launched a murder investigation and cordoned off the semi-detached bungalow in Palm Street.

Forensic experts began an inch-by-inch examination of the building, while police carried out house-to-house inquiries in surrounding streets.

A knife was recovered from the bungalow and sent to laboratories for scientific tests.

Mrs Carr, who lived with her teenage son and daughter in nearby Hazel Terrace, had turned 38 on Monday.

On Tuesday night, she had gone for a drink at Craghead Social Club and Institute, and stopped at the Palm Street address on her way home.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said Mrs Carr was a quiet, pleasant woman, who kept herself to herself.

She said: "She used to sit on her steps and talk when I was hanging the washing out.

"She was quiet, but very pleasant and nice to talk to."

Her death has shocked the quiet community.

Another neighbour said: "It was a terrible shock. There is a different atmosphere around here now; everyone is sickened."

The Palm Street bungalow is the home of Peter Killeen, 58. Paramedics answered a 999 call to the address and found Mrs Carr in the bedroom.

Despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man who was in the bungalow when emergency services arrived was taken to Durham's University Hospital and was discharged yesterday.

More than 20 detectives are working on the inquiry, led by Detective Superintendent Dave Jones.

A Home Office pathologist was due to carry out a post-mortem examination last night to determine the cause of her death.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "The body of a woman was discovered in the bedroom of a semi-detached bungalow following an emergency call in the early hours."

* Detectives working on the case said they have arrested a man in his fifties on suspicion of murder.

They are expected to interview him today