By Ted JeoryDETECTIVES were questioning last night a 24-year-old man on suspicion of murder after a father was stabbed in the stomach with a broken bottle and died in hospital.

By Ted Jeory

DETECTIVES were questioning last night a 24-year-old man on suspicion of murder after a father was stabbed in the stomach with a broken bottle and died in hospital.

The victim, believed to be aged 28, was attacked as he made his way home with a group of friends in the early hours of yesterday after attending a party in Witham.

He was walking along Guithavon Street when he was accosted by a man opposite the Roman Catholic Holy Family and All Saints Church between midnight and 12.30am yesterday.

The man, who is understood to have a partner and children, was stabbed in the stomach with a broken bottle.

He was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford with serious chest and abdominal injuries, but later died. Police said they would not be naming the man until his next of kin had been informed of his death.

Essex Police launched a murder inquiry and specialist dog units and the force helicopter were deployed in the Guithavon Street area in the hunt for the man's killer.

The area was sealed off while a fingertip search was carried out yesterday morning and a broken bottle was recovered from the scene.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said a 24-year-old man from Witham had been arrested yesterday afternoon after attending the town's police station voluntarily. He was still being questioned by detectives last night over the killing.

Residents of Guithavon Street and businessmen with premises there spoke of their shock yesterday at learning a man had been killed.

Peter McIntyre, owner of Beacon Cabs, whose base is just yards from the scene said: "We heard some girls screaming outside and we just listened. As far as I knew at the time, there was nothing unusual going on, but the atmosphere has all been a bit subdued here today."

Stuart Everitt, who lives opposite the church, said he had been asleep when the stabbing happened.

"I was woken up by the dogs and police helicopters, but I just ignored them. We always hear shouting and screaming on this road as people make their way to the taxi ranks after pubs' closing time. It was only then that I realised something serious had happened," he added.

Trixie Howard said she had lived in the area for five years and although the road was quiet during the week, trouble often broke out at the weekend.

ted.jeory@eadt.co.uk