The 48-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning after police were called to the apartment in the Altavista complex, in the Torremuelle area, where the couple are believed to have been living for six months.

British neighbours of the couple, who lived in the apartment in the resort of Benalmadena, say they were woken at 2am by the screams of the woman as she called for help.

When they entered the apartment they discovered the man, aged 57 and also from Sunderland, lying naked in a pool of blood on the living room floor.

It is claimed the woman, whose details have not been released except for her initials MC, initially told detectives the apartment had been raided by three armed men, one of whom had stabbed her partner in a struggle.

However, officers subsequently discovered a large knife covered in blood in the kitchen sink and took her in for questioning.

An initial examination of the body revealed that the man had died from a deep knife wound to the neck.

Residents of the complex, which is used by many Britons, are in shock at the killing.

Spanish authorities say they have no record of reports of domestic violence associated with the couple.
The woman spent last night in police custody in Torremolinos.
The couple's apartment remained sealed off today.