A 46-year-old woman has been arrested, following the fatal stabbing of a lorry driver.

Christopher Remm, 39, was discovered by police in the kitchen of his home in Witton Gilbert, near Durham, with a single stab wound to his stomach.

Officers were called to the home, in May Lea, after a 999 call and found two occupants at home, one of whom was Mr Remm. The man was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham by ambulance, but died an hour later.

A kitchen knife was recovered by officers and a 46-year-old woman, who was also at the house, was arrested and taken to Durham City Police Station, where she was due to be interviewed.

Durham police's major crime team are now trying to piece together Mr Remm's last movements on Wednesday night and in the early hours of yesterday.

Detective Superintendent David Jones, who is leading the investigation, said: "At 6ft 4ins tall and weighing at about 20 stone, the victim was a distinctive figure.

"We believe he left his home sometime after midnight to take his two dogs for a walk and at that time was wearing a Newcastle United shirt and jeans."

Det Supt Jones said he particularly wanted to hear from anyone who saw Mr Remm in the last hours of his life, as he took his dogs for a walk, or who heard any disturbance in May Lea over Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday morning by Home Office Pathologist, Dr Nigel Cooper, who confirmed Mr Remm died from internal bleeding.

Anyone with any information is asked to ring Durham City police station on 0191-386 4222 or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.