POLICE have today launched a murder probe in Eastleigh after a man sustained severe head injuries.

They have cordoned off part of Eastleigh town centre following the attack early today.

Scenes of crime officers are this morning working in the High Street area gathering clues to the attack.

Part of the High Street was closed at 5.45am and is likely to remain shut all day, said a police spokeswoman this morning.

Daily Echo:

Police officers are interviewing local residents and trying to identify the people involved in the incident.

Police believe there was an altercation in the residential area of the High Street at around 4.30am in which a 35-year-old local man sustained severe head injuries. His identity has not been released.

Officers and ambulance crew attended swiftly, and he was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he died a short time later.

Daily Echo:

A post mortem will be conducted by a Home Office pathologist either later today or tomorrow, to help establish cause of death.

Two men, aged 25 and 22, have been arrested and are currently in custody.

The investigation is being run by Hampshire's Major Investigation Team. Det Supt Paul Barton, leading the investigation, said: "We want to reassure local residents that this appears to be an isolated incident, and if they have any concerns to come forward and speak to officers who will be in the area today.

"We will be studying CCTV from the area, and we urge anyone who witnessed this incident or has any information which could help us to come forward and speak to us as soon as possible.

"We believe it is possible that one of the suspects may have lost their footwear during the altercation and we would ask that if any local residents find any shoes discarded in their garden or alrong the road from the route along the High Street to Chestnut Avenue to please just contact us and we will collect them."

Anyone who has information which can assist this investigation is urged to call 101 and quote Operation Bedale.

Alternatively, information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.