A MAN has been arrested after a woman was bludgeoned with a hammer and stabbed to death this morning.

The woman, named as Gillian Raine, 53, was attacked as she made her way to work from her home in Coleridge Gardens, Dipton, County Durham, at just after 7am this morning.

Police were called to the scene at 7.15am and are yet to formally identify the victim.

Residents told of their shock at the death of Ms Raine, who runs a local out-of-hours school club, in her hometown.

Her daughter Pamela is 22 and is understood to suffer learning difficulties.

Joanne Forster, 35, a housewife who has lived in the area for eight years, said: "It's an absolute tragedy, she was a wonderful woman who was very popular in the village - especially at the school."

Two areas in Dipton, County Durham, where the murder took place, remain cordoned off this afternoon as police continue their investigation.

A 55-year-old local shopkeeper, who asked not to be named, was upset at hearing the tragic news this morning. She said: "Gillian was a few years below me at school, so I grew up knowing her.

"We were never particularly close, but she would always come into the shop and say hello - she was very friendly, and popular.

"I can't believe what has happened to her. My friend told me that she spoke to Gillian this morning as she walked her dog.

"Gillian stopped for a chat and was upset because of another recent death in the village of a well-known local woman who died of cancer. "She was saying how sad it was. She also told my friend that she wasn't looking forward to going into work this morning because she had a big meeting to attend.

"They said their goodbyes and then minutes later, my friend heard the police or paramedics shouting 'Come on Gillian, stay with us'. "She was distraught to hear what had happened, and kept saying 'If I'd only spoken to her for longer'."

A spokeswoman for Durham police said: "At around 7.15am today police were alerted to an incident in Coleridge Gardens, Dipton.

"A woman in her 40s was found lying on the footpath with serious injuries. She was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham where she died shortly afterwards.

"A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and will be interviewed by officers during the course of the day.

"A post mortem examination by Home Office Pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton is being carried out this afternoon.

"The area around Coleridge Gardens has been cordoned off to allow for full forensic examination and house to house enquiries are being conducted.

"Possible weapons have been recovered."

DCI Paul Goundry said: "This was a sustained assault in a public place involving two people who appear to have known one another, and was seen by other people who were in the area at the time.

"We're speaking to some significant witnesses and carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances leading up to this attack."

Supt Rob Coulson, crime support superintendent for the North area, added: "I must stress that this appears not to have been a stranger attack and we've made an early arrest of a suspect.

"I must reassure local people that serious violent crime has reduced significantly during the last 12 months and Durham Constabulary is one of the best performing forces nationally for bringing offenders to justice."

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 0345 60 60 365 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. People can also speak to their local neighbourhood officers.