POLICE last night retraced the last walk of a dog owner in an attempt to jog memories of passers-by and discover what happened in his "missing final minutes".

Exactly a week after George Button was found lying unconscious on a grass verge in a country lane near his home, police reconstructed his fateful walk with pet dog Laddie, in West Rainton, near Durham.

A passing motorist came across Mr Button lying in a pool of blood with severe injuries to the back of his head, in Mark's Lane, shortly after 7.30pm last Monday.

Laddie, a black and white border collie, was recovered unhurt nearby.

Mr Button failed to recover consciousness and died in Newcastle General Hospital on Wednesday.

The 53-year-old Sunderland City Council electrician lived with wife, Christina, and seven-year-old daughter, Laura Jane, in St Mary's Drive, West Rainton.

Detectives remain unsure if Mr Button, who suffered a blow to the back of his head, was struck by a passing vehicle or if he was attacked.

The last reported sighting of him was from a car passenger who saw him standing at the roadside near Mark's Lane talking to a man with a labrador.

This second man, between 6ft and 6ft 2in, and wearing a heavy coat and dark trousers, has yet to come forward or be traced.

Last night's reconstruction saw a detective taking the role of Mr Button, setting off with Laddie from Mr Button's home at about 7.05pm, heading to Hall Lane, over a minor crossroads and entering Mark's Lane, about 30 metres from the Greyhound pub.

Detective Superintendent Dave Jones, who is leading the invesigation, said Mr Button was seen talking to the other man at 7.20pm, and the call alerting police to the discovery of him unconscious was made at 7.36pm.

"What we hope this exercise has helped to do is fill in the mystery of what happened in those missing minutes.

"That image of someone with a dog walking the exact route taken by Mr Button might have jogged someone's memory, and we urge them to come forward with information."

Detectives and uniform officers maintained a heavy presence in the village during and after last night's reconstruction, asking passers-by if they remember anything from last Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0191-386 4222 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555111.