THE wife of a Bury man, who was kicked to death as he walked home from his birthday night out, choked back tears as she appealed for the "cold and callous" killer to be caught.

Sharron Johnston made the plea after the attacker punched, kicked and stamped on her husband Rob, as he walked through Bolton with a friend in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Mr and Mrs Johnston had lived in Holme Avenue, Brandlesholme, until February of this year when they moved to their new home in Breightmet. Mr Johnston (39) worked for Briggs Demolition in Wellington Street, Bury, for 20 years. His colleagues are devastated by the tragedy and are too upset to talk.

He had been walking with best pal Darren O'Donaghue, also of Holme Avenue, along Bolton's Saville Street at 2.40am when they were involved in an argument with two other men. Mr Johnston suffered severe head injuries and died in Royal Bolton Hospital seven hours later.

Mr O'Donaghue suffered brusing to his head and face. Speaking on Wednesday, Mrs Johnston (44) made a tearful plea for the attackers or any witnesses to help police.

She said: "Please just come forward and tell the police anything. He had a family and children and he didn't deserve that. Both of these men need to speak to the police and tell them exactly what happened. Anyone with information, it doesn't matter how small it is, needs to tell the police what they know. "I can't start to grieve until I know they have been caught."

Witnesses said they saw two men kicking what they thought was a bunch of rags. But as they moved closer it became clear that it was Mr Johnston. The two attackers calmly walked away when they saw the witnesses approaching. Mr Johnston had four children: Susan (23), Michael (20), Sarah (17), and Samantha (14).

He was also grandfather to Leonni, aged two, and 11-week-old Morgan. Mrs Johnston said: "I need to know who's done this and why and exactly what happened to my Rob that night. I can't put how I feel into words.

"Rob was a caring and gentle man with a heart of gold. He didn't have a violent bone in his body. He was always ready to help a stranger in the street and would never get involved in an argument."

Rob was a peaceful man, not a troublemaker. He had been out to celebrate his birthday which was the Monday before. They went into town for a couple of drinks and he was attacked.

"He shouldn't have died like that."

Mr O'Donaghue has also been left traumatised by the death of his close friend. Speaking on his behalf, Mrs Johnston said: "Darren is absolutely devastated. He can't come to terms with this himself. He's known Rob for 30 years. They were best mates and he can't understand what happened or why."

Detectives have trawled through hours of CCTV tape and want to speak to two men who were seen in the area around the time of the attack. They say only one of the men is believed to have attacked Mr Johnston.

Detective Superintendent Martin Bottomley said: "Rob was knocked to the floor by a cold and callous killer which left him totally defenceless. As he lay there his head was repeatedly stamped upon and he was kicked about the face and body.

"I know that two men approached Rob and his friend but we also know that only one of them attacked Rob. I would like to speak with the friend of this man. I am appealing to his better nature and just hope that he has a conscience to come forward and tell us what he knows."