A MURDER probe has been launched after a Bolton man was stabbed to death.

The man, named locally as Carlton Alexander, aged 23, of Great Lever, was found at a house in Brightmeadow Close, in Breightmet, at 4.15am yesterday.

Mr Alexander was taken to hospital where he later died. His next-of-kin have been informed.

Friends flooded to the scene where they laid flowers and said prayers.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “He was at his girlfriend’s house and that is all I know.

“It’s terrible news and shocking to wake up to a crime scene on your doorstep. I slept through everything.”

Mother-of-three and neighbour, Heather Hulme, who lives in Milnthorpe Road, with her husband and 17-year-old son, said: “It’s absolutely shocking at any time of the year but especially difficult at Christmas.

“I feel so sorry for all his family and friends, nothing like this has happened here before.

“It’s quite a quiet nice estate.”

A friend of Mr Alexander, Ken New, of Bolton, said: "All I can say is he was a very selfless person and a lot of people are hurt.”

Another resident, of Brightmeadow Close, said the estate was like a ‘little family’, she said: “It’s like a little family here, we all say hello and smile when we see each other but it’s a quiet area too.

“I have a 22-year-old daughter and can’t begin to imagine how Carlton’s family are coping.

"You never expect something like this to happen so close to home. I hope that his girlfriend and her three children are alright."

Police in Bolton, together with detectives from Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team, have launched an investigation and inquiries are ongoing.

No arrests have yet been made.

Chief Inspector Carol Martin from Bolton Police said: “First and foremost our thoughts go out to the family and friends of this young man.

“We are currently trying to piece together what happened before police arrived at the scene and we will be doing everything we can to find the person or persons responsible.

“I would like to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the disturbance or seen anything suspicious before or after police arrived to get in touch so we can give this man’s family and friends the answers they deserve.”

Paul Manning, who lives with his girlfriend, stepson, aged 16 and two-year-old daughter in Brightmeadow Close, arrived home to find the road cordoned off.

He said: “I stayed at my mum’s last night so this is the first I’ve seen of this.

“I don’t know what’s going on, it’s ridiculous, this is usually a nice area to live and it’s always quiet nothing much happens.

“My thoughts are with the family.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 5774 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.