A mother of two has died after she was stabbed in a retirement village before crashing her car on the way to hospital.

Eleanor Barnfield, 47, sustained “puncture wounds” after being attacked at work in Bridgend, South Wales, on Monday morning.

Neighbours said the housing association worker had tried to drive herself to hospital after being told by the ambulance service that there would be a long wait.

Ms Barnfield managed to drive for 300 yards before collapsing at the wheel and crashing into a wall on Coity Road. She died in hospital on Monday afternoon.

The Welsh Ambulance Service dismissed reports of a “delayed ambulance response” as “factually untrue”.

South Wales Police said she had sustained “puncture wounds” which were not related to the crash.

A spokesman said: “Upon attendance, officers identified that the driver had sustained puncture wounds unrelated to the collision. The woman was conveyed to hospital where despite the best efforts of medical staff she later died.”

Police have arrested a 61-year-old man from Bridgend on suspicion of murder following an investigation around Ger-y-Nant, which is owned by the Valleys to Coast housing association, where Ms Barnfield worked.

In a tribute issued through police, Ms Barnfield’s family said: “Mum was the kindest, most loving bravest person in the world.

“She meant everything to us and will be forever loved and missed deeply by her devoted family and friends. She was our rock.”

Specialist family liaison officers are supporting the victim’s family.

Locals said the woman was alone when she was found in the car.

Armed police later swept the residential block and found the alleged attacker barricaded in his room, according to locals.

Sue Thomas, who lives opposite the residential home, paid tribute to the woman who “went to work and did not come home”.

She said: “The residents are back but people going in have to sign in and out.

“You don’t expect to go to work and not come home. I feel for her family.”

Gavin Owen, who lives near the scene, added: “We had people coming to interview us, asking us for ring doorcam footage. And gradually it then expanded, we had standard police officers, then we had men in suits, we had the riot team come and then we had a SWAT team.

“They had ladders up, cable tyres going on the roof, it was just insane.”

Jo Oak, the chief executive of the Valleys to Coast housing association, said: “We are devastated by the tragic death of our colleague, Eleanor Barnfield.

“Eleanor was a much-valued member of the Valleys to Coast team, and her loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew and worked alongside her.

“She made an important contribution to our organisation and to the communities we serve, and she will be remembered with great warmth and affection by her colleagues.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Eleanor’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. We are doing everything we can to support those affected by her loss.

“We continue to cooperate fully with South Wales Police and, out of respect for Eleanor’s family and the ongoing investigation, we will not be commenting further on the circumstances of her death at this time.”

Ch Supt Jason Rees, of South Wales Police, urged people not to speculate online about the circumstances of Ms Barnfield’s death.

“Our thoughts remain firmly with Eleanor’s family,” Mr Rees said.

“I want to assure the community that teams of detectives and specialist staff are investigating.

“We appreciate the patience and support of residents, especially those displaced following the incident.

“Local communities may notice an increased police presence as our investigation continues.”

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called on Monday at approximately 12.44pm, to reports of a road traffic collision on Coity Road, Bridgend.

“A Cymru high acuity response unit arrived on scene seven minutes after the initial call at 12.51pm, with two emergency ambulances arriving to provide additional support at 1.07pm and 1.13pm.

“Advanced critical care support was delivered by the emergency medical retrieval and transfer service who arrived in a Wales air ambulance charity helicopter.

“The patient was conveyed by road to hospital. We are aware that contradictory and misleading rumours regarding a delayed ambulance response have been circulating on social media.

“These are factually untrue and we would encourage members of the public not to speculate.”