A MURDER inquiry was under way today after a man was stabbed to death on a busy Southampton street in broad daylight.

The victim was found lying outside a property in St Mary's, having suffered serious stab injuries.

Ambulance crews and police were called to an address near the junction of St Mary Street and Craven Street just before 9am and found the injured man collapsed on the pavement.

Police said the man was rushed to Southampton General Hospital in a critical condition but died shortly afterwards.

A murder inquiry was launched this morning, with a team of detectives drafted in from across the city.

Police said a man had been arrested at the scene and was taken to Southampton Central police station where he was due to be questioned about the attack.

The identity or age of the victim remained unclear as detectives worked to establish a fuller picture of what happened.

Det Chief Insp Dean Jones, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "The street was very busy at the time, and we urge anyone who witnessed this incident to call us as soon as possible."

Officers immediately sealed off the scene of the fatal attack and launched investigations in the area.

Detectives from Shirley CID were carrying out house to house inquiries in St Mary's and scenes of crime officers carried out a full forensic examination.

It's understood a number of witnesses were also being interviewed.

Police said a Home Office pathologist had been called to carry out a post-mortem examination, which was expected to take place at Southampton General Hospital later today.

The murder investigation is being run from a major incident room set up at Hampshire police's divisional headquarters in Hulse Road, Southampton.

Anyone with information should call the major incident room at Hulse Road on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Southern Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.