A ROCKWELL GREEN, Wellington, woman made a mercy dash last week to be at the side of her son who had been stabbed in the chest outside his home.

Mrs Elaine Puttock received a telephone call from a family member to say that her eldest son, Christian, had been stabbed.

The caller told her that the police would be with her shortly to take her to her son.

When the police had not arrived, Mrs Puttock rang the police headquarters but it was not until 8.15pm that they arrived, even though her son had been stabbed at 4pm.

Mrs Puttock was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary but her son had died from his injuries less than an hour after the incident.

Christian Puttock was attacked on his wife's birthday by a knifeman at his car outside the home he shared with Lisa and three children in Cox Way, Clevedon, on Tuesday, February 12.

Neighbours tried in vain to rescusitate Mr Puttock.

He is believed to have trying to get something out of his car when he was attacked.

Mr Puttock, who was in the Merchant Navy, had lived in Cox Way for three years with Lisa and they had celebrated the birth of their new baby daughter two weeks before his death.

His wife was celebrating her 34th birthday on the day her husband died. Neighbours have said that the area was a quiet neighbourhood.

One man paid tribute by saying: "He was one of the nicest men you could ever wish to meet."

He added: "You could not wish to meet a nicer bloke than Christian. He and Lisa only got married a couple of years ago.

"He was one of the nicest, most caring guys and what has happened is going to be so tough on his wife and children. "I just cannot believe that this has happened."

He paid tribute to the emergency services for their prompt attendance and their care for Christian.

However, Christian's mother, Mrs Elaine Puttock, said she was disappointed that the local police were not more prompt for her mercy dash to her son's side.

She told the Wellington Weekly News: "He was my son and I needed to be with him."

Mrs Puttock has lived in Rockwell Green since 2000.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: "We did everything possible to help Mrs Puttock, making arrangements to collect her from home, take her to the hospital, and returning her home afterwards at what was an extremely distressing and emotional time for the family."

Police have charged 35-years-old David Brown from Clevedon with murder.

He appeared before Weston magistrates on February 15.