DETECTIVES investigating the murder of 17-year-old Jay Whiston in Colchester have set up a dedicated number for witnesses to call..

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the incident room on 01245 452882.

Last night a fourth suspect - a 17-year-old boy from Colchester - was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Still in custody are two 18-year-old men and another 17-year-old boy, all from Colchester. Detectives have been given an additional 36 hours to question the trio, who were arrested in the early hours of Sunday.

A murder investigation was launched by police after they were initially contacted shortly after 10pm on Saturday, following reports that a boy had been stabbed outside a house on Marlowe Way.

Officers arrived and found Jay Whiston suffering from abdominal injuries.

Paramedics soon joined them and attempted to save his life before taking him to Colchester General Hospital. Jay, from Aster Close in Clacton, died a short time after arrival.

A provisional post-mortem examination result showed that the boy died from a stab wound.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Simon Parkes, said: “This really is tragic loss of life that we, but more importantly, this boy’s parents have to deal with.

“This murder took place in an affluent area of Colchester and at a house party which had a garden that could cater for the 100 or so teenagers that were present. Although we don’t yet know the details of what went on, we’re slowly piecing together the sequence of events that led to this boy’s death.

“We’re speaking to those who were at the party, but we’re mindful that there may have been others who left either before the stabbing or in the immediate aftermath before we arrived.

“Everyone at this party is a key witness whether they saw anything or not and we would urge them to contact us. Our thoughts are very much also with this boy’s family. They are being supported by our family liaison officers.”