Detectives were today investigating the murder of a 62-year-old grandmother who was stabbed to death during an early-morning street brawl.

Police were called to a disturbance in the Manningham area and discovered the victim with fatal injuries in her own home in Priestman Street.

It is thought there had been a row in the street moments earlier which the woman got caught up in before being attacked with a knife. She is believed to have made it back inside her home where she died from her injuries.

Detectives said that details surrounding the killing remained unclear and officers were today carrying out door-to-door inquiries in a bid to gather more evidence.

It is not known how many people were involved in the disturbance or whether the white victim - who has not been named - had been there from the outset.

"We are trying to piece together exactly what happened in the lead-up to this incident," said Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, who is leading the investigation.

He said that forensic experts were combing the scene of the disturbance and the spot where the grandmother was found dead in her own home at 3.25am.

"A forensic post mortem examination will be carried out on the victim later today," said Det Supt Sedgwick.

Manningham residents awoke today to find a huge area of the district cordoned off and dozens of police officers standing guard to protect potential evidence from being removed or destroyed.

One man from nearby Denby Street said: "It is absolutely shocking to wake up and find that something like this has happened on your doorstep.

"I tried to go and see a friend this morning but I was turned back by the police. I think that the local community will be deeply shocked by what has happened."

Det Supt Sedgwick said that nobody had been arrested in connection with the attack and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

"We will be carrying out door-to-door inquiries throughout the day but I would ask anyone who witnessed an altercation or who had information about this incident to contact us immediately."

Bradford North CID can be contacted on (01274) 375059.