A MURDER investigation was under way today after a young mum was killed at her Hampshire home.

Optician Hollie Green was found dead by police and paramedics who had been called to her third-floor maisonette at Taranto Road, Lordswood, Southampton, early yesterday.

Neighbours told how they heard the sound of a woman screaming and saw officers smashing down the front door.

Hollie, 21, is said to have had a young daughter and lived at the property with her boyfriend, Daniel Gibbons. She died from injuries to her neck.

Yesterday the block of 12 flats were being guarded by police who had been carrying out house to house enquiries since the discovery shortly before 5am. Forensic examinations were also being conducted inside the home and are set to continue today.

Neighbours spoke of their shock at the killing.

A woman living nearby said: "A friend staying the night heard a woman screaming at about 4.30am-5am.

Hammer He looked out of the window and saw police breaking down the door with a big hammer.

"Yesterday morning we saw forensic people wearing white gloves and masks and there was a crime scene investigation van parked outside.

"The police were outside the front door of the maisonette until it was boarded up at about 3pm.

"It's normally so quiet around here. It's a council estate and there's no getting away from that but I've lived here for almost two years and have never seen any trouble.

"There's never, ever been anything like this."

A grieving relative, understood to be Hollie's sister, visited the building and laid flowers near the spot where the murder took place.

A woman living in the block said: "We saw the police at about 8.30am. They let me out but I couldn't go back until they had finished searching the hallway.

"I'd heard banging at about 5.30am but thought it was a party downstairs.

"I didn't know the couple in the property involved, only to say hello' to. They've got a little girl and seemed a really nice little family.

"They were very quiet - we never heard anything from them."

She added: "What's happened is horrible and a bit scary. We've got one of the nicest blocks of the lot and don't get a lot of trouble."

Other neighbours said Hollie, who worked for Specsavers, and Daniel kept themselves to themselves.

One commented: "I've been here for 20 years but I barely know my neighbours. They come and go."

Yesterday a Police Community Support Officer stood guard outside the maisonette, which overlooks Lords Hill Way.

Outside the property, clothes pegs hung on a washing line and police tape stretched across the walkway.

A WPC compiling an attendance log sat at the bottom of the communal stairwell, writing down the names of every resident each time they entered or left the flats.

A 21-year-old man was arrested yesterday after being discharged from hospital. Last night he remained in police custody where he was being questioned by detectives.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the major crime department on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.