A man has been found murdered at his home in Stafford, sparking a police probe. A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the killing.

The body of the victim, believed to be in his 30s, was discovered at a terraced house in Marston Road.

Residents spoke of their shock as police and forensic teams clad head to toe in white suits and masks searched the house for clues.

The murder suspect was today being held for questioning at the Northern Area Custody Facility in Stoke-on-Trent.

The quiet residential area was cordoned off while scene of crimes officers carried out examinations. The man has not yet been formally identified.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “It is terrible what has happened. I only knew about it when I got home from work.

“I didn’t know him but had seen him a bit. It is shocking what has happened and you never expect it to be on your own doorstep.

“This neighbourhood used to be quite sociable but now there are a lot of new people who don’t really socialise, or they are here to study so are never in.”

Another neighbour added: “I didn’t know him but I had seen him coming in and out of the house quite a bit, along with quite a few other people. He had been there for about a year but didn’t really mix with his neighbours much.”

A student who lived nearby said: “It’s horrible that it happens so close to your doorstep.”

Forensic vehicles and patrol cars were parked outside the house for the majority of yesterday following the grim discovery, at 11am. Two PCs were also positioned outside the front and the rear of the property.

Staffordshire Police spokesman Peter Bate said a post-mortem examination would be carried out by a Home Office pathologist in due course.

Anyone with information is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.