A MURDER-STYLE investigation was launched last night into the death of father-of-two found with head injuries.

A policewoman discovered 34-year-old Paul Simpson lying in Askrigg Street, Darlington, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The mature student was taken to the town's Memorial Hospital and later to Middlesbrough General, where he died on Monday.

A post-mortem examination has established that Mr Simpson died from skull fractures to the back of his head, consistent with a heavy fall.

But it has also been established he had unexplained injuries to his face, believed to have been the result of a punch.

Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson, who is leading the investigation, said he could not rule out that Mr Simpson had fallen as a result of a punch.

An incident room has been established at Darlington police station and a team of 30 officers are working on the case.

Community wardens from Darlington Borough Council yesterday distributed 1,000 leaflets to homes in the area where Mr Simpson's body was found, appealing for help.

Det Supt Stephenson said officers had pieced together Mr Simpson's movements through Saturday and the early hours of Sunday.

But nothing has been found to suggest he had been involved in any trouble to explain the injuries to his face.

Mr Simpson met a friend for a drink at about 1pm on Saturday before going to the Darlington-Hartlepool football match.

They then spent the evening with friends before going at midnight to a house in Leyburn Road.

Mr Simpson left at about 2.10am and set off for the home he shared with his partner, Patricia, and daughters Lauren, ten, and Ashleigh, five.

But he was found about ten minutes later only a couple of hundred yards from Leyburn Road.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have spotted Mr Simpson in the early hours of Sunday morning to come forward.

He is described as 6ft tall, of medium build, with short, light brown hair. He was wearing a cream or beige crew-necked jumper, a reddish checked shirt and dark jeans.

Anyone with any information is asked to call (01325) 467681