FOUR people were being quizzed by police yesterday about the death of a young mother.

Kerrie Toward, 20, died from stab wounds following an incident in which a large machete could have been used, police said.

Northumbria Police said the victim had been at a house in the Hazelrigg area of Newcastle, and a post-mortem examination had revealed she died from stab wounds.

Police have recovered one knife from the scene but they believe that a second weapon, thought to be the machete, could have been hidden, or discarded, near the house.

Ms Toward, from the Brunswick area of Newcastle, had two children, aged one and two.

The youngsters were not with their mother at the time of the incident.

A police spokesman said yesterday: "Police are investigating the death as an unlawful killing.

"Three men and one woman have been arrested, and have been detained for questioning."

One of Ms Toward's neighbours, who did not want to be named, said: "She had two lovely children and she was always polite to me.

"It is tragic what has happened to her - a complete waste of a young life."