A British man has been stabbed to death outside a nightclub near Barcelona, Spanish police said.

Catalan police said they were investigating the “violent death” of a 31-year-old man who was attacked with a knife in Calella, about 30 miles north east of Barcelona.

A man has been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

The Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police) said they were called to reports of a fight shortly before 4am on Friday in the coastal town on Benavente Street, where Oxygen nightclub is located.

An injured man was treated by emergency services but died at the scene, police said.

Local police in Calella said another person was injured and taken to hospital following the incident.

In a statement, the Mossos d’Esquadra said: “Agents of the Mossos d’Esquadra of the criminal investigation division (DIC) of the northern metropolitan region are investigating the violent death of a 31-year-old man in Calella de Mar.

“A few hours later, and as a result of the first investigative efforts, members of the DIC have arrested a man allegedly related to the violent death.”

Calella police said in a post on social media: “The result of the incident is one dead and one injured, who has been taken to a hospital.

“The attack was by knife.”

Calella, located on Catalonia’s Mediterranean coast, is known as the “holiday capital of the Costa del Maresme”, according to Spain’s official tourism website.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”