TWO young brothers were today being held on suspicion of murdering a popular Hampshire newsagent amid reports he was stamped, kicked and punched to death the Daily Echo can reveal.

Choudhry Zishan is understood to have suffered a catalogue of horrendous injuries to his head and body after being set upon by two men who were trying to rob him of his money.

Witnesses to the savage assault are believed to have told how they saw the 35-year-old lying helpless on the ground while his attackers delivered blow after blow and stamped on his head.

The harrowing details can be revealed today as his family told how Mr Zishan was preparing to become a dad for the second time - his distraught wife Sabina is currently six months pregnant.

As reported, Mr Zishan was making his way to work around 4.30am on Sunday when he was assaulted just yards from his home above Newsmarket newsagents in Eastleigh High Street.

Daily Echo:

Paramedics were called to the scene and desperately tried to keep him alive but he died a short time later at Southampton General Hospital.

The two men being questioned by police - who are aged 22 and 25 but have not been formally identified - were arrested at a flat in Monks Way in the town on Sunday morning.

They have been interviewed by murder detectives who yesterday afternoon applied for a 12 hour extension at court to continue holding the pair in custody until today.

The killing happened close to the Swan Centre shopping complex in the heart of the town. On Sunday morning residents found themselves confronted by a blue forensic tent, erected to protect the scene, as word spread of what had happened.

There was also police activity in George Wright Close where a property was searched for evidence.

CCTV from many cameras around the area is being seized and a team of officers are currently trawling through hours of footage in the hoping to identify those responsible and piecing together what happened.

Yesterday there was a growing sea of floral tributes outside the Newsmarket store as people paid their respects to Mr Zishan, handing bouquets to officers guarding the police cordon.

Daily Echo:

Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, leading the murder enquiry called Operation Bedale, renewed his plea for witnesses to the “extreme and sickening” killing who have not yet come forward to do so.

He told the Daily Echo how it is believed the two suspects had spent the night out in the town and urged anyone who feels they may have information concerning the behaviour of two men they may have encountered to come forward.

And he also issued a plea to people living in the area of the assault to think again about any disturbance they may have heard and at what time - reminding people that the clocks had gone forward one hour during the early hours.

Last night [olice community support officers and local neighbourhood officers continued to speak to local people in a bid to reassure them.

Posters were delivered through the doors of nearby homes urging those with any concerns to attend a street meeting near to Wells Place last night to raise any concerns.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Op Bedale incident room on 101 or contact crimestoppers on 0800 555111.