A 13-year-old boy has been stabbed to death at a house in the West Midlands.

A murder investigation has been launched after police were called to Lovett Avenue, Oldbury, at about 16:00 BST on Thursday.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “The 13-year-old was treated by paramedics, however, despite their best efforts the boy sadly passed away.

“We have a team of detectives investigating exactly what happened during this tragic incident, and we’re following active lines of inquiry to identify who was involved.”

Det Supt Shaun Edwards said: “It’s absolutely tragic a young life has been lost.

“We have specialist officers who will be supporting the family of the boy.

“We have detectives working flat out to find whoever is responsible and bring them into custody as soon as possible.”

Police were called to the property by West Midlands Ambulance Service.

People have laid bouquets of flowers outside the house. One woman collapsed in tears after she left her tribute.

A police cordon has been put in place and forensic officers have been seen at the back of the property.

Detectives have also been making door-to-door enquiries with neighbours in an effort to find out more about what happened.

Last year the West Midlands had the highest rate of knife offences in England and Wales, in many cases victims of stabbings have been teenagers.

Richard Goldingay, 24, lives nearby and said the news made him feel concerned about his and his parents’ safety.

“The area is generally pretty rough. Oldbury is not really how it used to be, if that makes sense,” he told the BBC.

“When I came to the country in 2007 the area was generally nice. You don’t really get much reports or incidents as you have recently.

“It’s changed, it definitely has changed.”

He added: “It was quite shocking to hear [about it] and to see what was happening – the forensics team being out and police cars all over the road – it was quite scary to see.”

Darius Rayman, a youth worker for Sandwell Council, was at the scene on Friday morning.

“I think it’s really sad that somebody’s 13-year-old has passed away.”

“He hasn’t even lived up to his teenage years.”

He said he felt more needed to be done about knife crime by the government.

“Do we need to go back to the drawing board? How, and why, is this happening to young people in this area?”

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: “Upon arrival we found a teenage boy with life threatening injuries.

“Ambulance staff administered advanced trauma care at the scene but unfortunately, despite their best efforts nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.”

Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch with police.

Smethwick MP Gurinder Singh Josan posted a statement which said: “This is a tragic waste of a young life and my thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the family and friends of the young boy.”

He praised paramedics for their swift response, and added: “I have been in touch with Sandwell Police and, whilst we do not yet know the full circumstances, the police have launched a murder investigation.”

He reiterated that they would work “flat out” to bring whoever is responsible into custody.

West Midlands Crimestoppers chair, Mohammed Zafran said knife crime was an increasingly big problem in Birmingham.

“We need parents to lay the foundations and more community leaders to come out in the open and put it to the authorities to ensure we have more youth hubs which can stop these youths from loitering on the streets,” he said.