A Worcestershire mother-of-two was found stabbed to death outside the £800,000 country home she shared with her millionaire husband.

Lucy Landry, aged 38, managed to call for help after she was stabbed repeatedly.

But she died moments later in a neighbour’s arms, after she had fallen into his garden hedge with a kitchen knife stuck in her side.

Neighbours in Besford, near Pershore, have expressed their shock at the killing on Monday.

Lucy’s close friend Rachel Clarke told how she frantically banged on the window of neighbour Stephen Kennedy moments before she collapsed in his front garden.

She said Mr Kennedy was woken by “frightened screams” from outside the window and went outside to discover Mrs Landry body in the hedge.

“He said he could feel the body was all wet with very little pulse.”

“A knife had gone into her side several times and the handle was no longer visible.”

Mr Kennedy held Mrs Landry in his arms as she died.

She was the wife of a retired Texan millionaire. Her two children Harriet, aged seven, and her son from a previous marriage James, aged 14, are thought to have been in the house when she was stabbed.

West Mercia Police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers said they were not looking for anybody else in connection with the death.

Several bunches of flowers addressed to Mrs Landry have been laid outside her home after the attack.

Ms Clarke said: “The first thing you think is ‘murder in my neck of the woods, that could never happen’.

“Lucy was a beautiful woman who had an encyclopaedic knowledge of classical music. She was loved by everyone.”

Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I saw Harold and Lucy out together very occasionally but I only knew them well enough to say hello to.

“This is such a peaceful area you never expect anything like this to happen. Everybody has been shocked by it.”