1300 hrs

ESSEX Police have launched a murder investigation after a man died in hospital in Harlow shortly after midday today following a suspected stabbing.

Officers were called by the Ambulance Service shortly after 10.45am today to reports that the man had been found collapsed on a pathway which runs close to St Lukes Catholic School in Pyenest Road.

Police attended to find the Air Ambulance had been called to help treat the man and he was then taken by road ambulance to Princess Alexandra Hospital for further treatment but he was sadly declared deceased.

The victim is believed to be a 48-year-old man from the Harlow area.

Detectives, specialist investigators, uniformed officers and PCSOs currently remain at the location, where the man was found, carrying out a forensic examination of the scene and house to house enquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Marina Ericson, of the Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Our enquiry is currently at a very early stage and we would like to hear from anyone who has used this pathway today or was in the area of Pyenest Road, Hollyfields and Abercrombie Way this morning and saw anything that seemed suspicious or unusual. We believe the victim had walked up the pathway, where he was found, from Southern Way and was attacked close to Holly Field near the Pyenest Road end of the track.

“A forensic post-mortem will be carried out in the near future to establish the cause of death but all the information we currently have suggests our victim has been stabbed and this is a murder enquiry.

“We will remain at the scene for some time and there will also be uniformed officers in the area, who anyone with information or seeking reassurance can speak to.

“If anyone has information which could help us make an arrest or piece together the full picture of what has happened this morning then I would ask them to call Harlow Major Incident Team on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. It offers rewards of up to £1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of offenders.”