Pictured: ‘Loving’ father-of-one who was ‘stabbed to death’ in his own home in the early hours of Christmas Day – as woman, 33, is arrested

A father who was attacked and killed in his own home in the early hours of Christmas Day has been named locally as Louis Price.

Mr Price was victim of a suspected attack at the house where he lived with his parents in the quiet Staffordshire village of Norton Canes.

His heartbroken parents Graham and Eleanor Price were given the shattering news whilst on a dream getaway and have since raced back to the UK, neighbours have revealed.

Staffordshire Police said officers were called to a report of a man in his 30s in cardiac arrest on Elm Road, Norton Canes, at around 3.25am on Christmas Day.

They found Mr Price gravely injured and he died despite the efforts of paramedics.

A 33-year-old woman from Cannock was last night being questioned on suspicion of murder.

The victim and his ‘on-off-on’ girlfriend, named by neighbours as Kirsty Cribb, share a baby daughter together and have been described as ‘loving and proud parents’.

Neighbours in the usually peaceful, close knit square where Mr Price lived told of their horror as they were woken in the middle of the morning by flashing police and ambulance lights.

A father-of-one who was attacked and killed in his own home in the early hours of Christmas Day has been named locally as Louis Price (pictured)

Staffordshire Police said officers were called to a report of a man in his 30s in cardiac arrest on Elm Road, Norton Canes, at around 3.25am on Christmas Day

They found Mr Price gravely injured and he died despite the efforts of paramedics

A mother-of-three, who lives two doors away from the house of horror told MailOnline: ‘It was about 4.30am on Christmas Day when I heard something, it woke me up, and it was a girl crying loudly and saying over and again “No, no no!”

‘I didn’t know what was going on but it sound serious, I looked outside and the emergency services were everywhere.’

The woman, who asked not to be named, added: ‘We found out later that then young man who lived there with his parents had been killed by someone. We heard he was stabbed to death with a knife.

‘His poor parents were away on holiday when it happened, They usually go away to the Maldives for Christmas and that may have been where they were.

‘They will be absolutely devastated and my heart goes out to them.

‘I cannot imagine anything worse than being overseas on holiday and finding out your child has been murdered in the family home, and on Christmas Day.

‘Nobody deserves that.

‘It has shocked and saddened the whole little community here. It is beyond belief.’

Mr Price was described by neighbours as a ‘loving’ and ‘proud’ parent

Police were seen at the scene yesterday. Pictured: Norton Canes, Staffordshire

The modest end of terrace home in Norton Canes, near Cannock, Staffordshire, remains sealed off by police as a crime scene

Neighbours have told of their ‘shock’ and ‘sadness’ at the ‘horrific’ death virtually on their doorsteps

The woman continued: ‘The young man who died was a lovely lad. He lived with his dad, who is a builder, and his step mum, who worked at a local care home.

‘They kept themselves to themselves, and were a decent, hard working family.

‘Louis had a baby daughter with his girlfriend. They had been together for years.

She added: ‘I have lived here for six years and they have been here beyond that.

‘Louis worked front of house at a local Toby Carvery restaurant and he was a dad so had commitments.’

‘His dad and step mum had only last year, I think, renewed their wedding vows and Louis was there at the ceremony.

‘He is Graham’s only child but there is an elder step half brother.’

The house remains sealed off as a crime scene with police officers in attendance.

Several floral tributes in memory of the victim have been placed beside the cordon.

Flowers for the victim, in his early 30’s, have been placed at the front gate under a cordon 

Family members, in a state of visible distress and hugging one another, have visited the scene.

Another local said: ‘There are very nice neighbours and what has happened is very sad, and at Christmas, a time for family to be coming together.

‘The parents were abroad at the time and have been alerted to this nightmare and losing their son is such a dreadful way. It is shocking.’

One neighbour said: ‘There are no words to really express how we are all feeling for this family.

‘I didn’t really know them… but we are gutted for them.

‘I saw the flashing lights on Christmas morning and thought ‘What’s happening’ and it was commotion out there.’

The man continued: ‘Later we heard the young lad had been murdered, virtually on our doorsteps.

‘It’s a horrible thing to be going off and at Christmas, couldn’t be a worse time.’

One local added: ‘We saw all the activity in the street, two police cars and two ambulances and assumed they were there for an elderly neighbour who had been unwell and maybe had passed away.

‘When the police came round doing door to door inquiries and told us it was a murder we were stunned.’

The woman said: ‘We couldn’t believe this happened so close by on Christmas Day. It is heartbreaking.’

A post-mortem examination into the man’s death was due to be held on Boxing Day.

A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: ‘Officers were called to a report of a man in his 30s in cardiac arrest on Elm Road, Norton Canes, at around 03:25 on Wednesday

‘Despite medical efforts he died shortly afterwards and a post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place on Boxing Day.

‘A 33-year-old woman, from Cannock, remains in custody and is being questioned by police on suspicion of murder.’