POLICE investigating the death of Durham University student Patrick Brown have renewed their appeal for witnesses.

Mr Brown, a 21-year-old second year Russian student at University College, died of head injuries.

He was found at the bottom of an embankment near Durham's railway station at about 2.30am on Saturday.

Mr Brown, whose family lives in south Northumberland, was among a group of students returning on the last train from a night out in Newcastle who were caught up in clashes with a group of eight young men.

The man leading the inquiry, Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson, said he believed more than two dozen people, including two groups of young men, had been caught up in fighting and got off the train at Durham just after 2am.

All the members of the two groups - who were involved in violent confrontations on the train, platform and approach to the station - had been interviewed.

But the detective said that other passengers, who had got off at Durham, had not been traced.

He urged them to get in touch with the incident room at police headquarters on 0191-386 4929 "as a matter of urgency".

He also appealed for the occupants of a car that passed the two fighting groups to come forward.

The flag above Durham Castle - home of University College - flew at half mast yesterday and a candle burned throughout the day in Dunelm House, the Durham Student Union building, as a mark of respect.

l Christopher Woolley, 24, a builder, of Bek Road, Newton Hall, Durham, appeared before magistrates in Chester-le-Street yesterday charged with Mr Brown's murder.

He was remanded in custody until next Monday, when a preliminary hearing will be held at Newcastle Crown Court