The family of a man stabbed to death in a Belfast street today spoke of their shock and devastation at his murder.

The man, named locally as George Morrison (29), was found lying on the street in a pool of blood at Brookhill Avenue, north Belfast, shortly before 2.30am. It is understood he had been stabbed several times. Police said a 46-year-old man has been arrested and is currently helping detectives with their enquiries.

Mr Morrison’s aunt, Anne Morrison, said that the family has been left devastated by his death.

“He was just a quiet, harmless man. We can’t believe that this has happened. We are still in shock,” she said.

Anne, who lives in the street where the murder took place, said that a number of neighbours had tried to save her nephew’s life.

“I didn’t hear anything last night or early this morning. I didn’t know what had happened until my brother-in-law told me. I have been told that neighbours tried to help him but he bled to death. We are all very upset,” she added.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who was in the Brookhill Avenue or Allworthy Avenue areas at around 2.30am to contact them.

They are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen a row taking place or noticed one or more males leaving the area.

The area around the murder scene was cordoned off this morning as police and forensic officers continued their investigations. A number of shocked residents gathered around the scene.

Sinn Fein councillor Danny Lavery said he was sickened by the news.

“I totally condemn this. Too many knives are being used on our streets.

“It is very worrying. My condolences go out to this man’s family,” he said.

DUP Policing Board member Jimmy Spratt MLA said that despite efforts by the PSNI and councils to crack down on knife crime it is still an issue of concern for communities.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this man. Knife crime is a concern for communities.

“Police have been very proactive in dealing with this problem and there have been a large number of initiatives to try and clean our streets of knives but there are still those in our society intent on using knives to create mayhem.

“I would urge the public to be vigilant and to immediately contact police if they see anyone with a knife in suspicious circumstances.

“I would also urge anyone with information about this terrible murder to contact police.”

The annual rate of recorded knife crimes has been running at close to or above 1,000 a year since 2003.

Earlier this year police launched a major drive to cut the number of knife crimes in Northern Ireland

The initiative was aimed at young people in a bid to stop them thinking of a knife as a status symbol to be popped in a pocket before going out.