A murder hunt was under way last night after a man was attacked in a street.

The victim, who was in his sixties and of Chinese origin, was taken to Newcastle General Hospital but died last night.

He had been seen arguing with another man before the assault, police said.

Police had been called to Diana Street, close to Newcastle United's St James' Park stadium, at about 6pm yesterday after receiving reports of an assault.

A murder inquiry has now been set up and a post- mortem examination was being carried out yesterday.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said the victim, who has not been identified, suffered ''substantial wounds''. They are not treating the incident as racially motivated.