Eight of the 10 people arrested in connection with the murder of James Attfield in Colchester have been released without charge.

Seven had been arrested on suspicion of murder after the vulnerable father-of-five was stabbed 102 times and died shortly before 6am on Saturday, March 29.

The 33-year-old, of East Bay, was found on the Riverside Path near Colchester’s Castle Park.

Essex Police said the eight people released from their bail without charge were: two 33-year-old men of no fixed address; a 31-year-old man from Colchester; a 57-year-old man from Colchester, a 27-year-old man from Colchester and a 27-year-old woman from Colchester; an 18-year-old man of no fixed address; a 25-year-old woman from Southend.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old man from Colchester, arrested in connection with the investigation on September 24, has had his bail extended until January 5 2015.

Another woman, a 23-year-old from Ipswich, also arrested in connection with the investigation, remains on bail until tomorrow.

Mr Attfield, also known as Jim, was last seen in the River Lodge Public House in Middleborough on Friday, March 28.

He left there shortly after 10pm but so far there have been no confirmed sightings of him after that time until he was found dying the next morning.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “I would urge anyone who has any information about what might have happened to James to get in contact with Essex Police. Details of the murder are available on our website www.essex.police.uk. Please take a look at our appeals and contact my team if you have any information.”

People with information about the murder can call police on 01245 282103 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.