Murder hunt after landlord's body found

Mick Hughes had run the pub for at least seven years

A murder investigation has been launched after a licensee was found dead at his Black Country pub.

Mick Hughes' body was discovered in his bedroom at the Royal Oak Pub, on Norton Road, in Pelsall, Walsall just after 0900 BST on Sunday.

Mr Hughes, a divorced father-of-five, had suffered a head injury.

West Midlands Police believe it was a burglary which went wrong.

He'd run the pub for at least seven years, it seemed a nice location we certainly have not been called out to any problems recently

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Spencer

Cash was stolen from a safe in the pub.

Detectives investigating the murder said Mr Hughes had closed the pub at 2300 BST on Saturday and had carried on entertaining four friends until 0200 BST on Sunday.

Cleaners discovered his body later that morning.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Spencer, from West Midlands Police, said Mr Hughes was a very private man who lived alone.

Cordoned off

"Mr Hughes was a man who kept himself to himself," he said.

"He'd run the pub for at least seven years, it seemed a nice location we certainly have not been called out to any problems recently."

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on Monday.

The road outside the pub remains cordoned off and police have opened an incident room at Bloxwich Police Station.

They are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.