POLICE have confirmed they have received new evidence relating to the murder of a bouncer in Clacton more than 20 years ago.

Gary Chick died after he was attacked by three masked thugs on November 17, 1996, as he walked along Clacton seafront with his girlfriend, near the Venetian Bridge.

Mr Chick, 40, was hit over the head with what was believed to be a hammer.

A man was charged with his murder and a trial was held at Chelmsford Crown Court in 1999, but the defendant was acquitted.

The case has become Clacton’s longest unsolved murder.

A woman has contacted the Gazette after being involved in an alleged road rage incident in the West Midlands, in which the other driver informed her that he had been stabbed by the same person that killed Mr Chick.

Dash-cam footage of the incident was handed to Shropshire Police and then on to Essex Police.

A spokesman for the force said: “Essex Police has received information relating to the murder of Gary Chick in Clacton in 1996.

“We have spoken to the person who submitted it and the information is being assessed.”

Mr Chick’s daughter Roxanne was 11 when her dad was murdered.

She previously told the Gazette her father was known as a “gentle giant”.

“He was a big man with a big heart and the whole family was devastated when he died,” she said.

“I still can’t rest until we get justice and his killer is found.

“Every year I just keep my fingers crossed and hope someone has a heart and comes forward with information.”

Anyone with information about the case should call the police on 101.