DETECTIVES hunting the killer of a Poole pensioner heard yesterday how two women desperately tried to save the victim's life.

The victim, understood to be Peter Mabey, was stabbed in his ground-floor flat in Dale Close, Oakdale in the early hours of Thursday.

Mr Mabey's wife, Moira, tried to call the police but had the phone snatched from her by her husband's attacker.

She ran upstairs to her friend, Maureen Patterson, who was already on the phone to the police, having heard fighting downstairs.

The police warned her to keep her door bolted, but bravely she ran downstairs with Mrs Mabey to try to save her husband.

They found Mr Mabey in a pool of blood, but still hanging to life by a thread.

Paramedics battled to resuscitate Mr Mabey, who was in his early seventies, but he died at the scene of the crime.

By mid-afternoon yesterday, the police revealed that they were pursuing "only one line of inquiry".

They had heard accounts from neighbours of a fracas between two men - one believed to be Mr Mabey - late on Wednesday afternoon.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Mabey was taken to Poole Hospital, where he was treated in the outpatients' department for his injuries and then discharged.

Under eight hours later, he was dead - having been attacked a second time.

Forensic detectives spent all of yesterday searching nearby bushes and shrubs for a weapon and other clues.

By midday, they appeared to have called off the ground search, after taking away an item from nearby the council-owned block of three-storey flats.

Dale Close is in a secluded, leafy residential area with a copse for a backdrop. There is a mix of council flats and spotless, white-fronted private houses.

Neighbour Kerry Hayes, 41, said: "We heard about the disturbance in the afternoon and knew that Moira was very worried for her husband's safety.

"Mr Mabey was a likeable old gent. He'd always pass the time of day with me and was never any trouble to anyone."

"My friend Maureen Patterson did all she could and has been helping the police all day. She must be terribly shaken up, the same as Moira."

Another woman neighbour who did not want to be named said: "I didn't hear a thing during the night, but when I woke up were surrounded by police cars and half the road was cordoned off. I thought there must be a terrorist on the loose.

"When I found out what had happened, I just couldn't take it in. It's not something you ever imagine happening in an area like this."

The victim's wife is considerably younger than her husband and is thought to be in her late thirties.

The body was still at the flat 12 hours after the murder, while the forensic unit continued its investigation inside the property.

A Home Office pathologist was standing by in preparation for a post mortem examination later yesterday at Poole Hospital.

Det. Insp. Mike Rand of Poole Police, said: "Members of the victim's family are still being located."

Council officials are preparing to field enquiries from nervous tenants about security fears.

Det. Supt. Pete Jackson is leading the investigation. Anyone with information should call the incident room on 01202 223333 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.