Police have arrested a man after a suspected domestic violence murder in the New South Wales Hunter region.

Christopher James McLoughney was arrested at nearby Bellbird on Saturday night, after a tip-off from a member of the public.

Officers allegedly found a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition in the 37-year-old's car, which was taken for forensic testing.

Mr McLoughney was taken to Cessnock Police Station.

Superintendent Steve Laksa said officers were called to reports a woman had been injured, with alleged gunshots heard on Ellalong Street in Kearsley, near Cessnock in the Hunter Valley, about 7.30pm on Friday.

He said officers who found the 39-year-old woman described the scene as "horrific and traumatic".

"Hunter Valley police, Cessnock police and a number of other police attended t

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