Murder arrest over boat 'attack'

Police want to establish what happened before Maurice Batts died

A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a man who was found collapsed on his canal boat.

Results of a post-mortem examination on Maurice Batts revealed his death was caused by a "blunt trauma".

A 52-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held in custody at Banbury police station.

Mr Batts, 64, was found unconscious on his boat moored near Southam Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire, on 29 September. He died in hospital on Tuesday.

Police investigating the death of Mr Batts are now treating it as suspicious.

They have appealed for information about the events leading up his death.

Det Supt George Turner, from Thames Valley Police, said: "I am particularly keen to hear from anybody who saw or spoke to Maurice between Thursday 27 and Saturday 29 September.

"Any information, no matter how insignificant you think it is, could prove vital to establishing his movements and how he died."