A MURDER inquiry was launched today after a man was found in the street with head injuries after a fight outside a pub.

Police were called to the Bees Knees pub on the junction of Holme Street and St James Street, Accrington, at 11.20pm on Saturday.

They found forklift truck driver Raymond Hampson, 39, unconscious near Accrington Register Office in nearby Willow Street.

Paramedics arrived at the scene three minutes after being alerted and performed a series of life-saving techniques to try and revive Mr Hampson, of Slaidburn Drive, Accrington.

A tube was put into his lungs to try and inflate them and a number of drugs were used in a bid to bring him round. He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead a minute before midnight.

Today his distraught girlfriend, Elaine, was too distressed to talk about the tragedy.

She said: "It hasn't all really sunk in yet."

The couple have been together for about 12 months.

Divorced Mr Hampson worked part-time as a doorman at the pub on Friday and Saturday nights.

Stunned neighbours have been shocked and deeply saddened by his death.

Neighbour Myles Whitehead, said: "He was a brilliant man and well liked." His wife, Barbara Whitehead said: "He was a happy person, always smiling." Elaine, has three children at home with her, including a young son who is disabled.

Mr Whitehead said: "Elaine and Ray doted on each other and he doted on the children. He would do anything for them and would spend all his money on them."

Mr Hampson has a young son from a previous relationship and is believed to have previously lived in the Haslingden area.

Police sealed off the area and several revellers were questioned.

Forensic science experts searched the streets for clues.

Detectives from Accrington and Blackburn have been working on the case which is headed by Acting Detective Superintendent Paul Buschini.

He said: "Mr Hampson had been drinking with a friend in the pub and became involved in an altercation with a group of men as he was leaving the pub. The trouble spilled across the road into Willow Street where he was subject to an assault.

"He suffered bruising to his head and body. It was consistent with him being punched and kicked in the head.

"It was a sustained attack and, from what the witnesses have described, he was subjected to a significant amount of violence, which has led to him being fatally injured."

Police want to hear from anyone who was in the pub or in the area at the time.

They are questioning taxi drivers because it is believed one or more of the men involved in the altercation may have left the scene by taxi.

Inquiries are also focussing on another altercation in nearby Cannon Street earlier in the night to see if there was a link.

A post-mortem examination by Home Office pathologist Dr John Rutherford revealed Mr Hampson died as a result of head injuries.

David Allen, licensee of the Bees Knees, said the victim was a regular at the pub.

"I had known him for two years and he was a friend. This has come as a great shock. I don't want to say anything else at this stage."

Mr Hampson's parents and sister live in the Haslingden area.

A man was being questioned at Accrington police station today.

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