POLICE on Teesside have launched a murder hunt after a man was found stabbed to death in the street.

Lee Hannan, 29, was found by police lying on his back in the road in Tennyson Avenue, Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, just after 1am on Friday morning.

A post-mortem examination carried out by a Home Office pathologist revealed the unemployed father-of-two had been stabbed several times with a sharp-bladed weapon. Police have not yet recovered the weapon.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter McPhillips, who is leading the investigation, said Mr Hannan lived in Grangetown and was well known in the area.

He said: "Lee was found by someone who knew him. He described seeing him staggering down the road before collapsing.

"Lee was fully dressed in a dark green parka jacket with a fur hood over a blue jacket and blue jeans."

He added: "The first officers on the scene did attempt to resuscitate him with mouth to mouth until paramedics arrived, but Lee was later declared dead at the scene by a police surgeon."

Mr Hannan leaves a girlfriend, an eight-year-old daughter and a son aged five, both from a previous relationship.

He is believed to have been living at his parents' home, also in Grangetown, at the time of his death.

Det Insp Jon Green said: "It's difficult to lose a loved one like this at any time, but especially at this time of year."

Det Chief Insp McPhillips said 40 police officers were involved in the murder investigation.

Tennyson Avenue remained sealed off last night as uniformed police and forensic experts carried on the search for clues.

Police said there had been several reports of a confrontation in the street shortly before Mr Hannan's body was discovered.

Det Chief Insp McPhillips appealed for witnesses to come forward.

He said: "We need to speak to everyone who was in the area at the time, and particularly those who might have seen an altercation.

"I also want to hear from people who were in lee's company, or saw him, from 7pm on Thursday night.

One Tennyson Avenue resident, who did not wish to be named, said the area where the murder took place was regularly the scene of trouble.

He said: "We see it all the time, but we dare not say anything."