Murder inquiry into city stabbing

Sharon Bell was a mother-of-three

A woman who was found unconscious in a city centre street died from multiple stab wounds, police said.

Sharon Bell, 38, of Elswick, Newcastle, was found in the doorway of the New York hair salon where she worked, in Nelson Street, on Tuesday.

The mother-of-three died later in hospital. Her three children, who are aged six, 15 and 16, are being cared for by relatives.

A murder inquiry has begun and police are appealing for witnesses.

Busy street

The investigation is being led by Det Ch Insp Roger Ford who said: "We know that Nelson Street would have been very busy with shoppers and office workers at the time who must have seen or heard something of what happened.

"We need to speak to anyone who may have information which can assist this investigation.

"Although our initial inquiries suggest it was unlikely to have been a random attack we still need to establish exactly what happened."

Police are studying CCTV footage. Anyone who was in the area from 1630 BST is asked to contact police.