A 44-year-old man was today being questioned by police over the murder of a hairdresser inside her salon.

Mother-of-three Sharon Bell died in a horrific attack that started inside the New York Hair Salon in Newcastle city centre on Tuesday.

The blonde 38-year-old single mother was found slumped in the doorway of the shop.

The suspect, who has not been named, is being questioned at a police station in Newcastle.

At a press conference yesterday , Detective Chief Inspector Roger Ford played down speculation that the killer used the divorcees own scissors in the frenzied attack.

The inquiry is centring on Miss Bells background. Officers strongly believe that this was not a random killing.

The area was busy with shoppers and office workers returning home.

Mr Ford said: "We know that she was working alone in the shop. She was still alive at 5pm, and we know that some time between then and 5.20pm someone has entered the shop and carried out a horrific attack using some form of sharp weapon, and subsequently left.

"Sharon then managed to come out of the shop, where she collapsed in the doorway and was found by a member of the public."

Mr Ford paid tribute to Miss Bell, who leaves three children: Dale, 16, Natasha, 15, and six-year-old Fay.

"She was a hard-working mother who had worked as a hairdresser all her life and was devoted to her children, he said. Her life seemed to revolve around her children and work."

Mr Ford declined to be drawn on a motive for the attack, or reports that she may have had a panic alarm fitted at her home in Elswick, Newcastle.

He would not comment on whether she had taken out an injunction against an individual who had been harassing her.

The officer did say that Miss Bell had contacted Northumbria Police a few months ago about an alleged domestic incident.

He did not believe that recent vandal attacks on her car were linked to the murder.

Mr Ford, who has a team of officers scouring CCTV footage from the city centre, urged the killer to give himself up.

"I think it is in that persons interests to come forward as quickly as possible."

He added: "Sharons children are completely devastated by the loss of their mother, and her family are offering every possible assistance to help find her killer."

Miss Bells ex-husband Jimmy Rice, the father of her two older children, was said to be distraught.

He said: "She was a lovely person and will be missed. I am just so upset by it."