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A mother-of-three who "lived for her kids" was one of two women who were killed in separate attacks that were just seven minutes apart.

Jodie Betteridge, 30, has been named locally as one of two women that died yesterday in Redcar, Teesside.

The other victim has not been named, but Cleveland Police confirmed she was 46 years old as a police spokesman said they will have "additional patrols in the area" over the Easter weekend.

Police received a report that a woman had been seriously injured at 8.45pm yesterday evening at an address on Mapleton Crescent, Redcar.

Then at 8.52pm, a member of the public called to say that a woman was being violently assaulted on Byland Close.

(Image: Gazette Live)

The incidents reportedly happened within seven minutes of each other in the Lakes Estate area.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police confirmed that a 34-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder a short time after the incidents and he remains in police custody.

Paying tribute to Jodie today, Theresa Largan, 51, said that she was like one of her own children.

(Image: Peter Reimann/Gazette Live)

"I only saw her last week, I see her all the time, I just can't believe it," she said.

"She was always happy, I don't think I ever saw her sad, she took everything in her stride.

(Image: Peter Reimann/Gazette Live)

"Jodie lived for her kids, I don't think I ever saw her on her own, she always had the tribe with her. I just want the family to know that we are all thinking of her and them."

A floral tribute for Jodie was left near to the scene at Byland Close, where a large police cordon remains, and a white forensics tent is still in place outside the modern terraced house.

(Image: Peter Reimann/Gazette Live)

The flowers dedicated to her said that "thoughts are with your beautiful children".

Wanting to be known only as Danny, one 29-year-old man said he had known Jodie since they were teenagers and described his friend as a "lovely girl".

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"She was always smiley, she loved her kids - she lived for them. It is absolutely devastating what has happened, I can't get my head around it," he said.

"All of our friends are absolutely devastated, we are beside ourselves, we can't believe this has happened.

"She was special, everyone she met, she put a smile on their face. No-one ever had a bad word to say about her.

(Image: Google)

"My heart goes out to those kids. Those poor children, I am a dad myself and I couldn't imagine what they are going through."

Step-mother Louise Betteridge was too upset to talk about Jodie when approached.

Residents on Mapleton Crescent were also shocked following the attack on the 46-year-old woman.

Resident Dora Gillespie said today: "It is very, very shocking. We have had a break in yes, but not a murder."

Leonie Ing, 92, who lives opposite the bungalow where the victim is believed to have died, said she was disabled and had visits from a carer.

The former post office worker said: "I didn't know the lady.

"I once saw her walking down the road with her son and his girlfriend.

"They stayed with her when she first moved."

Mrs Ing said the neighbour lived alone.

A police statement issued this afternoon said: "Police received a call to an address in Mapleton Crescent, Redcar at 8.45pm last night where a 46-year-old woman was located with serious injuries.

"At 8.52pm a second report was received stating that a woman was being violently assaulted on Byland Close, Redcar, a short distance from Mapleton Crescent.

"On police attendance a 30-year-old woman was located and she had also sustained serious injuries. Both women sadly died a short time later.

"We are treating both incidents as murder enquiries and specially trained family liaison officers have been assigned to the victims families who are understandably shocked and saddened by these tragic events.

"The inquiry is still in the early stages and it would not be appropriate at this stage to confirm the names or details of the victims or their families.

"The families of both women have requested some privacy whilst they come to terms with these shocking events. Our thoughts are with both families at this time."

"Police will be carrying out additional patrols in the area over the bank holiday weekend and we would urge anyone with any information in relation to either incident to contact police."

Redcar's Labour MP Anna Turley spoke in the House of Commons about the murders.

She said: "I am sure the whole House would join me in expressing their horror and their sadness at these terrible murders and to send our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to the victims' families, particularly the children, and also to the local community at this terrible time."

The MP added that a woman is killed every three days in the UK and she said agencies working with the victims of domestic violence were "stretched to breaking point".

A North East Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We received a call to Mapleton Crescent at 8.45pm. "We dispatched two ambulances to the scene, the first of which arrived at 8.47pm and the second at 9.01pm.

"We received a call to Byland Close at 8.57pm. We dispatched three ambulances to the scene, one of which was from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

"The first arrived on scene at 9.02pm, backed up at 9.09pm and 9.29pm. Our bronze commander, a senior member of operational staff, was also on the scene."

Anyone with information should call Cleveland Police on 101 or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."