DETECTIVES are tonight (Tuesday, May 27) continuing to question a man suspected of the attempted murder of a woman, who is in hospital after sustaining serious stab wounds.

A woman, named locally as Joanne Bolton, suffered serious injuries to both her head and body following a savage attack at her County Durham home.

Emergency services were called to Poplar Street in South Moor, Stanley, shortly after 10pm on Monday night.

When police arrived, paramedics were already treating Miss Bolton, 34. She was taken initially to the University Hospital North Durham before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Ms Bolton’s condition has been described as serious.

The incident has saddened her neighbours. Care assistant Katie Ferguson, 23, said: “It is a bit shocking. It is not nice to think of this sort of thing going on over the road from you. It is terrible.”

A 34-year-old man, who lived at the house until recently and is believed to be the partner of the injured woman, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and he is in custody at Durham city police office.

House-to-house enquiries in the area are underway and a forensic examination of the two-bedroom terraced property has been carried out.

Police have been working with Durham County Council searching the drains in the area for any weapons that may have been used in the attack.

The senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry, said: “Poplar Street is a long row of terraced houses and we are keen to hear from anyone who may have heard a disturbance, or any other unusual sounds coming from number 29 on Monday evening.

“While we have a man in custody this investigation is still in its early stages.

“I would urge anyone who thinks they may be able to help to get in touch with us, or they can ring Crimestoppers if for any reason they would prefer not to call the police.”

Ms Bolton lives two doors away from where 33-year-old David Scott lived.

He was killed days before Christmas 2012, in nearby Rose Avenue by Luke Garner and George Keane, who were 16 at the time.

Maintenance worker Paul Foster, 43, said today: “There is always something going on around here. It is getting worse.”

Anyone with information about Monday’s attack should contact Durham Constabulary on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.