THE step-father of a man who died after allegedly being attacked in Ribbleton has made a heartfelt plea for an end to the violence that has plagued the area in recent weeks.

Garry Watkins and his wife Sharon lost their 22-year-old son Stephen McLaughlin after a assault in Cemetery Road on November 11.

Stephen, who lived with his girlfriend Sarah and nine-month-old baby Michael Garry, died four days later from severe head injuries.

Yesterday (Wednesday) Stephen's step-father spoke out: "My wife Sharon is upset enough, she can't cope with any more trouble, so please, leave it to the police.

"I know there are a lot of angry people on both sides but please let the police deal with it."

Mr Watson who has two other sons and a daughter, insisted the attack was not racially motivated. He said Stephen had a lot of friends of different races and the family had received messages of sympathy from both white and Asian people.

Acting detective chief inspector John Legge who is leading the inquiry, said the trouble was between two gangs, but agreed that race was not the cause of the dispute.

He said: "We want to get to the truth of the matter. We feel people are reluctant to come forward because of loyalties.

"But it's important to the family to know what went on. We have heard one side but we don't really know a lot about the Asian picture."

The killing has now been linked to four other incidents on November 11, starting with a confrontation between the two factions in the refectory of Preston College at about 3.15pm.

At 8pm, there was trouble in Farringdon Crescent and again about half an hour later. By 10.30pm a group of white youths were at house in Fishwick Parade and 30 minutes later began the final battle which culminated in Stephen's fatal attack.

Police have steeped up patrols in the town in a bid to prevent further violence and 35 men are working on the case from the incident room at Hutton.

They are following several leads and are keen to hear from anyone who saw three vehicles in or near Cemetery Road or Farringdon Crescent that day. They are a grey or blue Nissan Bluebird bearing a taxi plate, a dark saloon car, and a grey or silver Volkswagen Golf.

Five men have been charged with the attempted murder of Stephen McLaughlin but Mr Legge said he believed up to 15 youths could have been in Cemetery Road at the time of his killing.

He appealed to anyone who heard or saw anything that day to call him direct on (01772) 618800.

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