A MURDER inquiry was underway today following the death of a woman in hospital shortly after she was found critically injured in a street.
The victim, who has not been identified by police, was discovered in Thomas Street, in the Blackhill area of Consett, County Durham, at around 6.30am.
She was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham, where she subsequently died.
Little more than an hour after the discovery of the woman's body, a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of murder by armed police, seven miles away in Front Street, Craghead, near Stanley.
He was detained after being temporarily disabled with the use of a taser stun gun, which delivers a 50,000-volt charge to incapacitate the target.
The suspect was taken to Durham City Police Station for questioning.
Detectives cordoned off areas of Thomas Street, Blackhill, and Front Street, Craghead, as the investigation was mounted.
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