The man arrested on suspicion of murdering nurse Jane Clough was sacked from his job as an ambulance technician in May.

Last night Jonathan Vass, 30, was being questioned by detectives after police arrested him in Barrowford yesterday morning.

Miss Clough was found stabbed in the staff car park of Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Sunday night.

Hospital colleagues battled to save her but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Vass, of Preston, met Miss Clough after separating from his wife Joanne in the city, police said.

The couple had an eight-month-old baby and lived in Camden Street, Barrowford, before they separated last year.

Miss Clough continued to live at the house.

Following his split with Miss Clough, he is believed to have moved to the city’s Fulwood area and worked as a nightclub doorman.

Relatives and friends delivered a stream of flowers, in memory of Miss Clough, to the family home, off Stone Edge Road, Higherford, yesterday.

Neighbours said Miss Clough and Vass had lived in Camden Street for around 18 months before they split.

Marie Thompson, the Blackpool hospital’s nursing director, said: “We are all shocked and devastated by the news of the tragic death of accident and emergency (A&E) nurse Jane Clough.

“We would like to offer our sincerest condolences to Jane’s family, friends and work colleagues at this difficult time.

“Jane had worked as a registered nurse in the A&E department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital for four years and was a valued and popular member of the team.

“She was described by her work colleagues as a very caring, compassionate and highly competent A&E nurse.

“Staff from across the trust are extremely distres-sed and shocked by what has happened and we are currently offering them support and counselling.”

Hospital porter Vaughan Cochrane, 54, of Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, who lives opposite the car park, said: "She was always smiling. A really nice girl.”

One bouquet of flowers had been placed there, bearing a message which read: “Such a waste of a life RIP.”

Vass, an ambulance technician, is thought to have worked in the same department as Miss Clough.

Ambulance technicians assist paramedics, but have less formal skills.

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We can confirm Jonathan Vass was a technician at NWAS and was dismissed from the trust in May 2010.”

Miss Clough’s family were too upset to talk about their loss.

Miss Clough had just finished her shift at the hospital’s A&E department and is believed to have been returning home to Barrowford.

Her attacker was said to have left the scene on a bicycle.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Esseen, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with Jane Clough’s family, who are being supported by specially trained officers.”