A killer twice ran his young victim through with a samurai sword before driving a car over her body as she lay dying.

Neighbours watched in horror as the 21-year-old partygoer staggered into a North-East street, only to be stabbed again.

As she lay helpless in the road, her killer got into a car, ran over her body then fled the scene in Thomas Street, Blackhill, Consett, County Durham, at 6.30am yesterday.

A suspect was later cornered by police in the nearby village of Craghead and subdued using a taser stun gun.

Last night, a man, understood to be 36-year-old Hugh Penrose, of Thomas Street, Blackhill, was being questioned at Durham City police station after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Last week, he was granted bail after appearing at Durham Crown Court charged with possession of a knuckleduster.

He pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned for a trial at the same court next month.

The murder victim, who has not been identified but is believed to be from the Kendal area, in Cumbria, had been among a number of people who attended a party at the house in Thomas Street on Thursday.

"It was a sustained attack and she has received horrific injuries to her body as a result of the two attacks in the house and when the car ran over her," said senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Neil Malkin.

"I can't stress enough how important it is that people come forward to help with this inquiry."

It is understood the victim had stayed behind at the house party after most of the other guests left, but became embroiled in an argument with a fellow partygoer in the early morning.

Trouble flared again at about 6.30am when the woman was attacked inside the house with a short, ornamental, samurai sword.

Despite suffering serious wounds, she escaped, but was attacked again with the weapon, before being run over by a man driving a maroon Ford Mondeo.

She was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham, but died shortly after arrival.

After leaving the scene, the attacker drove along Queen's Road and Durham Road, before heading towards the village of Leadgate, where he is thought to have removed the car's number plates.

About an hour after the attack, a man produced a weapon during an argument with a bus driver after being refused to be allowed to board a bus in Craghead, near Stanley.

Armed officers cornered a man in Front Street and arrested him using the stun gun.

Police recovered a samurai sword in Craghead, while forensic crime scene investigators cordoned off the street in Blackhill.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 60 60 365.