Shop death prompts murder probe

A police cordon has been set up around the shop

The owner of a newsagents has been murdered during a robbery at his shop near Luton town centre.

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire serious crime officers were called just after 0630 BST to Moon's in Park Street.

The shopkeeper died after being stabbed and the incident is being treated as murder, police said.

Det Ch Insp Jon Humphries said: "We believe it was a robbery that resulted in the shopkeeper being stabbed." He also appealed for information.

"Anyone who was in or around Manor Road, Park Street or Bailey Street around 0600 BST this morning and saw anything unusual or suspicious which could be related to this incident should contact police."

The spokesman said a post-mortem examination was due to be carried out later.

The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called to the scene just after 0630 BST and an ambulance crew found a man in cardiac arrest.

"The man was rushed to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital but sadly died."

The area has been cordoned off.

A local resident said the newsagents was run by a husband and wife.