A MAN was being questioned by murder squad detectives today after a Southampton man was stabbed to death in broad daylight.

The victim, believed to be a local man in his early 30s, was found with serious stab injuries on the pavement in St Mary's just before 9am yesterday.

He was rushed to Southampton General Hospital in a critical condition but died shortly afterwards, prompting the murder inquiry.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene, near the junction of St Mary Street and Craven Street.

Last night the man was still being questioned at Southampton Central police station.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Daily Echo, ambulance crews and police were called to an address close to the junction and found the victim collapsed on the pavement.

The area was immediately sealed off as scenes of crime officers began a full forensic examination.

Police taped off St Mary Street from Johnson Street and Ascupart Street at one end and at Clifford Street at the other.

Two uniformed police officers stood guard at either end of the cordoned-off stretch while forensic experts combed the area. House-to-house inquiries were also being carried out.

A team of about 25 police officers is working on the investigation, codenamed Operation Conna.

Today Det Insp Jason Hogg, leading the investigation, said: "We urge anyone who saw this incident or anything suspicious, who has not already spoken to police, to please call us as soon as possible to help us in this inquiry."

He confirmed officers had also seized CCTV footage from St Mary's.

Meanwhile, Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue was called in to carry out a post-mortem examination at the city's General Hospital.

Yesterday the murder was the talk of the close-knit St Mary's community.

One market trader said: "I have heard a lot of rumours. Everyone's talking about it. There has been a lot of police around all morning, forensics and everything."

Carly McKenzie, a local shop assistant, said: "We just heard sirens and we just looked out of the window and it was there. We didn't think it was anything serious until they closed the road off."

Any information to the Operation Conna incident room at Hulse Road on 0845 045 4545, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.