FURTHER tributes have been paid to a Carlisle man who was stabbed to death.

Ryan Kirkpatrick, 24, of Carlisle, died following an incident at Carlyle's Court on Saturday night.

Flowers were left outside the gates of Carlyle's Court on Fisher Street in the city's historic quarter.

A man, aged 23, from Carlisle, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Three people were also arrested yesterday on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Cllr Pamela Birks, Mayor of Carlisle, paid tribute to the young man.

She said: "It’s an absolute tragedy that something has happened like this and that a young 24-year-old man has lost his life.

"It’s needless and hopefully they’ll get the perpetrator. My thoughts are with the family and friends of this young man taken far too early.

"[I hope] the police manage to get it resolved relatively quickly on the basis that it may help the family.

"I ask anybody who has any information to please contact police because we don’t want this happening to anybody else."

She added: "We have to be with that family at the moment and Carlisle stands with that family at the moment.

"What they must be feeling, the grief, disbelief and all of those things that come when somebody’s taken far too early."

Cllr Louise Atkinson represents the Cathedral & Castle ward where the incident took place.

She said: "It’s absolutely devastating, my thoughts and prayers are with the young man’s family at this time.

"I would encourage anybody who saw anything or not to help the police with their enquiries at this stage. It’s important that we find out what really happened."

She added: "Happening on our doorstep it very much brings it home. It’s devastating, absolutely devastating.

"The entire family and the community have been affected."

Mr Kirkpatrick's family released a statement.

They said: “We want to pay a tribute to our beautiful kind and caring Ryan, who will always be the light of our family.

“Funny, strong, loving and charming, your cheeky smile will be imprinted in our hearts forever.

“Cherished memories remembered until we can hold you again.

“A loving son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. Owner of his much-loved sausage dog Frank.”

Tributes were also paid to Mr Kirkpatrick on social media.