DETECTIVES were last night examining closed circuit television footage as investigations into the mysterious death of a father-of-two continues.

The unconscious body of Paul Simpson, 34, was found in Askrigg Street, Darlington, by a police officer at 2.20am on Sunday.

He was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital and then to Middlesbrough General, where he died on Monday.

A postmortem examination revealed a fracture at the back of his skull and marks on his face suggesting he had been punched.

A "murder-style" investigation was launched and officers, led by Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson, say the response from the public to media appeals has been positive.

Mr Simpson, who was nearing the end of a degree at the University of Northumbria, had been to the Darlington versus Hartlepool football match on Saturday afternoon with a friend.

The pair had then met other friends and gone to a number of pubs before returning to a house in Leyburn Road for supper at about midnight.

Mr Simpson left the house ten minutes before he was found by the officer. He was said to be in good spirits and detectives say there was no indication that he was drunk.

He managed about half of the 400-yard walk to the home he shared with his partner Patricia and two daughters, Lauren, ten, and Ashleigh, five.

Officers have been piecing together traffic and people movements in the town centre area at the time.

Although CCTV does not cover the area where he was attacked, it is thought the footage could establish who was in the area.

Anyone who was in the area or has any information about Mr Simpson or how he was injured is urged to contact the incident room on (01325) 467681 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.