Luan Leigh
The woman has been named locally as 42-year-old Luan Leigh Facebook/Luan Leigh

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his ex-partner and attacking their two children as they slept at a house in Birmingham.

Police were called to a house in the Pype Hayes area of the city by the ambulance service after a 42-year-old woman, named locally as Luan Leigh, was found dead.

A 15-year-old boy was also found with a stab injury to the chest and a nine-year-old girl was treated for strangulation injuries to her neck. Both are currently being treated in hospital but are expected to make a full recovery.

A 42-year-old man from Sutton Coldfield, also named locally as Mrs Leigh's ex-partner Andrew Leigh, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder of the children. He is currently being questioned by West Midlands Police officers.

Det insp Paul Joyce said: "It's understood that both children were attacked in their sleep; the boy suffered a punctured lung and the girl has a badly bruised neck but thankfully both are expected to make a full recovery.

"A man has been arrested and, at this stage, we're not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation.

"Enquiries are on-going with neighbours and friends of the family and I'd urge anyone who believes they have information that could aid our enquiry to contact us immediately."

The couple were said to have separated around 18 months ago but still kept in contact and went on holidays together. One neighbour told the Birmingham Mail how they still appeared to have the "perfect family unit" together.