The family of a man who died following an assault in Blackpool have paid an emotional tribute to him.

Police were called by staff from Blackpool Victoria Hospital to report a patient had, on September 7, been taken to A&E with injuries after being assaulted.

The man, Rob Kerr,  died earlier this week on Tuesday, September 17.

Police believe Mr Kerr, 42, was assaulted at his home address on Coronation Street in Blackpool late on Sunday, September 1 or in the early hours of Monday. Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

A Home Office postmortem examination has been carried out and the death is being treated as a homicide.

An investigation is underway, and four people have been arrested in connection with our enquiries.

One of those people, a man aged 27, has now been released without charge and three others, men aged 21, 29 and 40, have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

A fifth person has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He is a 22-year-old man from Blackpool and is in custody at this time.

In a tribute, Mr Kerr’s mother said: “Rob was my youngest son out of 5 siblings. He has two older brothers and younger sisters. He was a loving and caring person, and he would do anything for anyone. He was such a protective person, especially over me and his three children – two of them are now adults but his youngest is still a child. He loved each of them a lot.

“If anyone knows anything, could you please come forward and contact the police. My son did not deserve any of this. We are left heartbroken.”

If you can help, please call us on 101 quoting log 1232 of September 14. Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers free and in confidence on 0800 555 111.