A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a young woman's body was found in a petrol soaked flat.

The 29-year-old man arrested was still in the flat, at the Vallum Court tower block in Newcastle's run down west end, when police arrived after responding to an emergency call made to the ambulance service at 9.25pm on Monday.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Police are investigating the death of a woman, believed to be in her 20's, who was found in a flat in Vallum Court in the west end of Newcastle.

"A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

"When emergency services arrived at the scene, there was a strong smell of petrol at the flat, and the scene had to be made safe.

"A post-morthem examination is due to be carried out this afternoon.

"This investigation is in its very early stages, but it is being treated as a murder enquiry."

Police have released no details as to the identity of the dead woman or man arrested, but say they believe the man to have been resident at the address, and that he will be interviewed later today.