Detectives appealed for help last night after a dad was murdered in front of hundreds of horrified clubbers as he danced with his girlfriend.

Forty-year-old Mark Thirsk was battered to death at the De Niro's nightclub in Middlesbrough. Detectives said he was dancing with his girlfriend when he was assaulted in the early hours of this morning.

Revellers battled to save him - performing first aid in the club - but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Middlesbrough General Hospital. A post mortem has revealed he died of head injuries.

Police said he had been to numerous pubs in Middlesbrough on Thursday night before going to the town's De Niro's nightspot in Zetland Road.

Mr Thirsk, who was divorced and had two sons aged 13 and eight, lived alone in the town's Tower Green.

Friends - who nicknamed him Nipper - last night described the father-of-two as the life and soul of the party.

A man who grew up with Mr Thirsk, but did not want to be named, said: "He was a bit of a Jack-the-Lad. I saw him on Thursday night actually, and can't believe he is dead. He was a great character who reminded me a bit of Del Boy.

"He was not the type to go around causing trouble, he was just out for a bit of a laugh."

Another friend, who had known him for around ten years, said: "You won't find a person with a bad word to say about him. He was always up for a laugh and always had a smile for you. "He was a bit of a ladies man, but he enjoyed himself and hurt no-one.

"I don't know why anything like this would happen to him. It was awful when I found out. "It is especially sad because I think he had two young children. One of them used to come and visit him every weekend.

"All the people around here will say the same that he was just a happy-go-lucky lad, who had a twinkle in his eye and was always nipping in and out of places."

Police are to scan CCTV in a bid to find what went on prior to the incident.

Detective superintendent Gordon Lang, heading the investigation, has appealed for anyone who saw anything to come forward.

He said: "I am appealing for anyone who was in the club and may have seen anything or anyone who has any information to come forward and contact the incident room.

"At the moment leading up to the assault he was dancing with his girlfriend and had been out socialising with friends. We are in the process of discovering what happened and are going to look through CCTV."

Police officers have warned that the town centre has become increasingly violent over the last 12 months, and earlier this week a scheme to tackle the growing number of incidents in the town was unveiled.

Doormen in pubs and clubs are to state-of-the-art two-way radios to warn each other of potentially violent groups of drinkers.

The system will link pubs with Cleveland Police's control room which can respond quickly if trouble flares.

Riaz Hameed, chairman of Middlesbrough's Pub Watch scheme said: "Mr Thirsk's death is a particularly sad outcome to the incident and one that is very unwelcome in Middlesbrough. "It is very important that the Pub Watch scheme and radio scheme become active as soon as possible."