Eyewitnesses said they saw "armed police" descend outside a block of flats where the suspect of murder investigation was arrested.
Merseyside Police received calls at around 8.30am that the body of a woman had been found inside a property on Radway Road, Huyton, close to the junction with Lyme Cross Road. Officers and paramedics attended but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman has been named as Lorraine Cullen, 43, Merseyside Police confirmed. Her next of kin had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers.
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A 21-year-old man, who detectives say is known to the 43-year-old, was arrested a short time later on suspicion of murder on York Road, a short distance away from Radway Road. Police and forensics appeared to be focusing their efforts on a block of flats next to a car wash.
One man told the ECHO he saw "armed police" descend on York Road at around 9am today, he said "loads of police" were also at the scene. Other people confirmed there was a large police presence for around an hour this morning on York Road.
Staff at UK Super Shine Hand Car Wash, which is on the junction of Longview Drive and York Road, said police were at the scene for around an hour at around 9am today. They said there were “loads” of police along the road and a "man was arrested at the flats."
Ms Cullen was said to have a young daughter of primary school age who lived with her in the property, as well as an adult son and an adult daughter.
One woman, who lived near the scene on Radway Road, told the ECHO: "It was just after all the kids were going to school. The police came and there were a few people gathered outside. I heard she was dead.
"The ambulances came but they didn't put anyone inside. I didn't know her well but she was a lovely person. I would go over when the little one was playing in the garden and speak to her. She was playing outside on the trampoline last night."
Forensic investigators in white protective suits could be seen coming and going from the property this morning, while detectives conducted door-to-door enquiries. Another neighbour told the ECHO: "She was a lovely looking girl, it is devastating, absolutely devastating. She was bubbly, I didn't know her well but she was lovely.
"I just heard the police just before nine this morning and I ran down, they were cordoning off the road. The ambulance came and they went inside but they did not take anyone out."
Detective Inspector Laura Lamping said: “We can confirm that a woman in her 40s has sadly died this morning following an incident at a house in Huyton. Although an arrest has been made, we are in the very early stages of the investigation as we seek to establish what happened at the address.
"It is therefore vital that anyone with information that could assist our enquiries gets in touch. If you live in the area and witnessed the incident, or saw any suspicious behaviour this morning on Radway Road, please contact police immediately. Any information, no matter how small, may prove vital to our investigation.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has information which could help us with our inquiries, is asked to DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 with reference 22000322022.
