POLICE may launch a murder inquiry today following the death of a man who was found lying in the street severely injured five days ago.

Andrew Hickox, 42, died at about 2.20am yesterday at York Hospital, where he had been critically-ill since being discovered with serious head injuries in the city centre.

Detectives had been treating the incident as a serious assault, but had not ruled out a fall or car accident.

They are expected to confirm today if a murder investigation is to be launched, once they have the results of a post-mortem examination conducted yesterday.

Mr Hickox, a self-employed builder from Elland, near Halifax, was on a visit to the city with three friends last Saturday night. They visited a number of pubs in the city, including Yates's Wine Lodge, in Church Lane.

Police said Mr Hickox was in Yates's at 10.30pm on Saturday, but at some point he became separated from his friends because they were planning to go to a club.

Mr Hickox was found by passers-by in Lower Friargate, at 1.15am on Sunday.

His parents, Harold, 75, and Doreen, 72, maintained a bedside vigil at York Hospital in the hope that their son would recover from his injuries.

Mr Hickox, who lived alone, had two brothers, John, 45, and Peter, 41, both of Halifax.

Police are appealing for anyone who spoke to Mr Hickox in Yates's Wine Lodge, or saw him leave, to contact them on (01904) 618503.

Mr Hickox was wearing a dark-blue short-sleeved Harvey Nichols shirt, blue Henri Lloyd jeans and white Adidas trainers.