Police have issued an urgent appeal for a witness after a man died after being seriously injured in a street fight.

The 34-year-old Braintree man was involved in an altercation in Braintree High Street on Sunday, December 16, at 1.35am.

He suffered a serious head injury and died in a London hospital on Christmas Eve.

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out later before the identity of the man is released.

Police are eager to trace a young man spotted on CCTV footage who was in the area at the time, wearing light-coloured trousers and carrying a takeaway meal. They stressed that he is only being sought as a potential witness.

Detectives are keeping an open mind as to how the incident came about.

A 26-year-old man from the Braintree area, who was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, remains on police bail. He was arrested in connection with the incident.

Published Thursday December 27, 2001