TRIBUTES have been paid to a man who died after being stabbed in County Durham in the early hours of Sunday.

Alan Stokoe suffered fatal injuries after he was stabbed in Melville Street, Chester-le-Street just after 2am.

Emergency services treated the 26-year-old, who is from Chester-le-Street, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A statement released by his family said: “All the family are devastated about the loss of Alan. He was a funny man and will be greatly missed.”

A post-mortem examination has been carried out and the murder investigation continues.

A 42-year-old man, who was taken to hospital with serious injuries, is under arrest on suspicion of murder.

The Northern Echo: