A MURDER inquiry is under way after a cleaner who was viciously attacked in a Southend bar died from his injuries.

John Murray, 64, from Southend, was found lying unconscious with severe head injuries, inside the Sun Rooms, in Market Place at 4am on July 5.

Police found him after being called to a fight outside the bar.

Mr Murray, who worked at the bar, never regained consciousness after the attack and died on Friday at Southend Hospital.

Det Insp Martin Pasmore, of Southend police said: "Due to the extent of Mr Murray's injuries we have always been treating this as a serious offence.

"Although a post-mortem will now be carried out to establish the exact cause of death, we are now treating the incident as a murder inquiry."

His family, who have been keeping a bedside vigil, are too upset to comment.

A Southend man, aged 23, a Rayleigh woman, aged 31 and a 23-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, both with no fixed address, have been arrested on suspicion of causing grevious bodily harm.

They have been bailed by police as further inquiries and forensic tests are carried out.

Anyone with any information about the incident can call Southend police on 01702 431212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.