Youths quizzed over street murder

Stephen Langford died after being attacked by four or five people

A man who was kicked to death in an Oxfordshire town died from a head injury, a post-mortem examination has revealed.

Stephen Langford from St Anne's Court in Henley-on-Thames, was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head in the town's Greys Road on Saturday.

Police said the 43-year-old, originally from Liverpool, died later in hospital.

Police are continuing to question two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, arrested on Sunday on suspicion of murder.

Two 17-year-olds arrested on Saturday were released without charge on Sunday evening.

Henley MP Boris Johnson, who knew Mr Langford, has called for an end to violent behaviour in the town.

He said: "It's just a sickening, terrible thing to happen. He was a happy, fantastic guy.

Young daughter

"People will be very shocked. Loads of people in Henley would have known Stephen. He was one of those guys who put himself out to raise money and do good work for charity.

"I just hope it will rally people to say we've had enough."

Police believe Mr Langford, who had a young daughter but lived alone, had been out for a drink with a friend on Friday evening.

They said he was attacked by a group of men, who may have been carrying pizza boxes from a takeaway, near Henley police station, at about 0145 GMT on Saturday.

Police officers ran out to confront the gang after a member of the public raised the alarm, but the gang had run off.

The attack on this man was extremely severe, and involved him being punched and kicked in the head Det Ch Insp Pete Dowling

Neighbours described Mr Langford as a quiet man, who worked in sales, and occasionally received visits from his young daughter.

A shopkeeper said a CCTV camera is trained on the spot where the attack happened.

He added: "It happens in every town now on a Friday night. Henley is no different."

Taxi drivers at a nearby cab firm said they had been asked to help provide first aid to the man.

Det Ch Insp Pete Dowling said: "This is being treated as a murder inquiry and I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information to contact me as soon as possible.

"While there is no suggestion at this stage that any weapons were involved, the attack on this man was extremely severe, and involved him being punched and kicked in the head."