A 25-YEAR-OLD man who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of father-of-four Rob Johnston has been released on police bail.

He was detained last Thursday at his home in the Halliwell area following a call from a member of the public.

Mr Johnston, of Levens Drive, Breightmet, was murdered following a night out with a friend in Bolton town centre to celebrate his 39th birthday the previous week.

Today, detectives revealed that a motorist who drove past the scene of the attack could hold a vital clue in the hunt for his killer.

They are keen to trace the driver of a light-coloured Peugeot 106, which had a sunroof, seen travelling down Saville Street, Breightmet, before and during the vicious assault.

Mr Johnston and his friend Darren O'Donaghue got into an argument with two men at around 2.45am on Saturday, October 16, as they walked home.

He was repeatedly kicked and stamped on during the attack and died from head and facial injuries eight hours later in hospital.

Mr O'Donaghue of Holme Avenue, Bury, was also injured but refused hospital treatment.

Detectives handed out posters and appealed for help from drinkers in Bradshawgate on Saturday, a week on from the murder.

They also showed them CCTV images of two men who were seen running away from Breightmet Street on to Bradshawgate, towards the town centre, at around 2.45am on the night of the murder.

The first man had muscular shoulders and short hair and was wearing a top with horizontal stripes.

The second man was wearing a dark top with a light or white coloured logo on the front and light coloured trainers. The detained man from Halliwell has been released until December 20 pending further inquiries.

Det Supt Martin Bottomley said: "We know the driver of the white Peugeot was in the area before the attack and drove past the scene as Rob was being murdered.

"I would appeal to that person to come forward and tell us what you saw.

"The message is still we need to speak to anybody who recognises the CCTV images of the two men seen in the area."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the murder incident room on 0161 856 5965.