Murder squad detectives were today continuing to question a Bradford man about the stabbing to death of a mum-of-three.

Rachel Kemp, who was believed to have been living in a refuge in Widnes after leaving Bradford two months ago, was found dead in a car brought to a halt after a 12-mile police chase.

A murder investigation was started after the body of the 39-year-old, whose maiden name was Linder, was discovered in a silver Ford Mondeo which had ploughed into bollards outside Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Monday night.

An inquest into the death was opened and adjourned last night and a post-mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist concluded that Mrs Kemp died of stab wounds.

A 41-year-old Bradford man was arrested at the scene and was being questioned by detectives.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Telegraph & Argus, Mrs Kemp was walking along a road in an industrial estate in Widnes, Cheshire, shortly after 8pm on Monday with her three friends, when she was attacked and dragged into a car.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "The four were walking along when a man got out of the car and grabbed the woman.

"She was stabbed and dragged into the car which then drove off."

The woman's friends called police.

A pursuit began after the car was spotted by officers near Widnes town centre but it failed to stop.

The chase finally came to end when the Mondeo smashed into bollards at Sefton Park after officers laid a Stinger device in its path to burst its tyres.

Paramedics tried to revive the woman but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mrs Kemp has two grown-up daughters and one grown-up son.

They have been told of her death.

The Cheshire police spokesman said the driver of the car was known to the woman.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Cheshire police on (01244) 350000.