Horrified neighbours have spoke of their shock after hearing about a murder which happened just doors away from their homes.

Police were called to an address in Worcester Drive, Rayleigh shortly before 1am this morning and discovered that a man was unresponsive inside the property.

The victim, a man in his 30s, was later pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts of paramedics. 

Three people - a 39-year-old local man and a 23-year-old woman, and also a 25-year old woman from Basildon - have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The local woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

Investigating officers believe that all parties involved were known to each other.

And the news has come as quite a shock to neighbours, with a 32-year-old who lives further along the street speaking of how he saw a woman come out onto the balcony of the flats and say "he's been stabbed".

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The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It was about 2am and there wasn't anyone else around at the time, but I saw a woman come out onto the balcony who said 'he's been stabbed'.

"After that the old bill turned up, and then I went indoors. It's very unusual for this side of Rayleigh and isn't something we see on our road.

"It was definitely strange having all these police and forensic teams around, but of course after I heard that we knew why."

His 60-year-old mum, added: "It is such a shock that this happened so close to us, this sort of thing just doesn't happen round here."

A 31-year-old from Rayleigh, who also lives nearby, said she was first alerted that something was wrong after hearing sirens outside.

The woman, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: "When I heard the sirens I came outside and heard screaming.

"The woman that was there was screaming for me to get her kids. 

"I took the kids inside and didn't come out again. This was about 2am.

"It is massively unusal for us, everyone is so shocked. It was New Years Eve, everyone had had a drink, and then that happened.

"We can't believe it."

A 47-year-old neighbour from Rayleigh, added: "It's crazy how it can happen so close to your home and you don't even hear anything."

But a 77-year-old resident of Worcester Drive, who too wished to remain anonymous, says he first thought police had came to break up a party during New Years Eve antics.

He explained: "There were still a lot of fireworks going on quite late in the car park behind the flats, so when I looked out this morning and saw the chaps in the fluorescent jackets I thought it may have been a party because of all the fireworks. 

"My friend then texted me to tell me what had happened and said 'I hope it's not too near you'.

"Then it clicked that must be what they were there for. I'm so sorry to hear what has happened. 

"It could still have very well been the outcome of a party going on there last night, but who knows.

"I'm an ex police officer myself so I know how it works, and had a feeling something was wrong.

"This is a shock to hear about, but then again maybe it isn't. Many years ago we at the other end we had a murder, which was a stabbing."