POLICE have launched a murder probe after a man was stabbed to death in a fight.Emergency services were called to a fight in Forest Road, Colchester, at 7.

By Juliette Maxam

POLICE have launched a murder probe after a man was stabbed to death in a fight.

Emergency services were called to a fight in Forest Road, Colchester, at 7.25pm on Saturday night.

They found a man, thought to be aged in his 30s, with a stab wound to his chest.

Paramedics desperately fought to keep the man alive. He was taken to Colchester General Hospital but died an hour later.

A preliminary post mortem examination result showed the man had died as a result of a stab wound to the chest.

Yesterday a section of Forest Road, on the Greenstead Estate, was cordoned off. Police checkpoints were set up and access was restricted to residents only.

Police carried out a detailed search of a house. Officers were seen taking photographs of the lounge and hallway. They also examined the porch area, which is shared by the neighbouring house.

People living nearby gathered at the cordons and spoke of their fear that a killing could place so close to their homes.

Tony Osborne, who has lived in Forest Road with his wife, Lynn, for 26 years, said: "This makes me feel very unsafe.

"About four years ago someone else got stabbed to death at a bus stop near here. It seems to be getting more violent up here than it ever used to be.

"It used to be nice and quiet. Just recently, in the last few years, it's got worse and worse. Yobs cause a lot of trouble."

Mr Osborne added: "We first realised there was something up when we heard all the sirens and lights. "We were sitting in the front room. When we looked up the road they were getting out of vans. Then the ambulance arrived and we saw them stretchering someone away.

"The police helicopter was round last night just after it happened.

"All through the night the road was blocked off with police cars. Engines were running all night long and lights flashing. Forensics got out, put overalls on and looked up the road."

Last night police had not released the identity of the dead man, who came from Colchester, because they were trying to contact a close relative.

In the early hours of yesterday morning two men were arrested in the town, a 38-year-old on suspicion of murder, and a 41-year-old on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Last night they were being questioned by detectives in two different police stations.