Floral tributes left after boy, 13, stabbed to death

Dozens of flowers, candles and teddies have been laid outside the house

Emotional floral tributes have been left outside a property where a 13-year-old boy was stabbed to death.

Officers were called to Lovett Avenue, Oldbury, on Thursday afternoon where the boy died at the scene.

Dozens of bunches of flowers, candles and teddies have been laid outside the property to pay tribute to the teenager, who has not yet been named.

No arrests have been made but Ch Supt Kim Madill, of West Midlands Police, said it was a murder investigation and there were "active lines of inquiry". An online portal has also been set up to allow people to send in information, pictures or video directly to investigating officers.

Police officers stood at the cordon placing flowers outside the property

"I know this will also have had a huge impact on the wider community who will be shocked and concerned about what has happened," she said.

A murder investigation was launched on Friday as police appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Candles have been lit to pay tribute to the boy

Last year the West Midlands had the highest rate of knife offences in England and Wales, in many cases victims of stabbings have been teenagers.

West Midlands Crimestoppers chair, Mohammed Zafran said knife crime was an increasing problem in the area.

"We need parents to lay the foundations and more community leaders to come out in the open and put it to the authorities to ensure we have more youth hubs which can stop these youths from loitering on the streets," he said.

Caroline Reid, a Dudley councillor who lives in the area, said the situation was "heartbreaking" and she felt compelled to bring flowers to the scene.

Her own brother was killed in 1998 and she said every time she hears of an alleged murder, it brings the pain back.

She said: "I came here to pay my respects and put flowers down. Every time there is an incident like this, I've lived this myself and even though it was 26 years ago, it still feels like yesterday and you relive it."