A WOMAN who died from stab wounds was about to join her boyfriend at an Army base in the region, it emerged yesterday.

Private Ian Lowe, 24, from 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was arrested on suspicion of murdering Leanne McNuff on Sunday.

His unit is based at Somme Barracks, at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

Mother-of-one Miss McNuff, described by her parents as a “beautiful, kind-hearted and generous girl”, died from multiple stab wounds following an incident at her home in Manchester.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed a serving soldier had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

He said: “The matter is subject to an ongoing civil police investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Greater Manchester Police, who are investigating Miss McNuff ’s death, said a 24- year-old man yesterday remained in police custody for questioning.

Police were called to a house in Droylesden, Greater Manchester, at about 7.45pm on Sunday, following reports a woman had been assaulted.

Pte Lowe is a member of the same unit as Sergeant Nigel Coupe, 33, who died along with five other soldiers last week when a Taliban roadside bomb destroyed their armoured vehicle in Afghanistan.

Friends and neighbours left tributes at Miss McNuff ’s home yesterday.

Schoolfriend Keely Curtis, 23, said Miss McNuff was devoted to Pte Lowe.

Miss Curtis said: “They had a break about a year-and-ahalf ago, but from what I’ve seen they had got back together.

I saw her a week ago and she seemed happy.”

Miss Curtis said her friend had been planning to move to Catterick to be near Pte Lowe.

Soldiers stationed in the UK live in barracks during the week and are free to leave at weekends unless they are on duty.

Miss McNuff had a fouryear- old son, Jaden, with Pte Lowe.