POLICE were today still searching for a weapon following the murder of a father-of-two who was found stabbed to death in a North-East street.

Around 40 officers are involved in the investigation into the death of Lee Hannan from Grangtown, near Middlesbrough.

Mr Hannan was found stabbed to death in Tennyson Avenue, Grangetown, in the early hours of Friday morning.

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

As officers comb the area for clues, Detective Chief Inspector Peter McPhillips, who is leading the investigation, today repeated an appeal for information.

He said: "Police are continuing their hunt for the person responsible for the death of 29-year-old Lee Hannan.

"Officers were called to Tennyson Avenue, in Grangetown, just after 1am yesterday, Friday, December 29, where they found Lee lying in the road. Lee had suffered a number of stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Shortly before police arrived at Tennyson Avenue, we'd received a number of calls about an altercation in the street.

"Specialists scenes of crime officers conducted a thorough search of the Tennyson Avenue area and are still looking for a sharp bladed weapon.

"Since my appeal for information late yesterday, we have had a number of calls. We are now examining this information so we can fill in the gaps in what we know of the last hours of Lee's life.

"I repeat my appeal for information now, especially to anyone who was in the Tennyson Avenue area from late Thursday night into the early hours of Friday, who heard or saw the confrontation in the street.

"I also want to hear from anyone who had been in Lee's company or who saw him from 7pm on Thursday night December 28."

A dedicated incident room has been set up at the new police headquarters at Kirkleatham, near Redcar.

Anyone with information should contact the enquiry team on 01642-302626 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.