THE GRIEF-STRICKEN father of Hampshire murder victim Paul Booth has today made a heartfelt appeal to find his son's killers.

On the second anniversary of the attack which led to his death, Mick Booth, 58, told the Daily Echo: "It is worse today then it was the day after he died. Apart from being my only son he was a mate.

"You go around and see people my age with their sons and I'm never going to have that."

He added: "There isn't more than two hours go by without me thinking about him and what happened."

Mr Booth suffers from emphysema and sinusitis. Doctors have warned him that he could be dead in a few years.

He said: "I'm going to be dead before the police get a sniff and that is burning me.

"It would be good to get this sorted. That is all I want in the world."

Paul, a 31-year-old builder from Blakeney Road, Millbrook, Southampton, was brutally beaten by three men on the forecourt of an Esso garage in Totton on February 5, 1999.

Paul was found collapsed at home by his girlfriend on February 16 and died in hospital 15 days later having never regained consciousness.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Paul died as a result of head injuries received during the attack at the garage. He had visited the hospital on the night of the attack but left before receiving treatment.

Following his death, officers launched a murder investigation. Despite numerous media appeals and coverage on Crimewatch UK his murderers remain at large.

On the evening of February 5, Paul had withdrawn money from a cash machine at Lloyds Bank in Commercial Road, Totton, and was on his way to his girlfriend's house in Calmore, when he stopped at the Esso garage to buy cigarettes.

He got out of his white Astra van before being set upon by three men, either on or near the garage forecourt.

Following his death on March 3, 1999, officers were sent an anonymous diagram depicting the attack in detail and providing descriptions of the three men involved in the altercation.

It also described a black Mitsubishi Shogun at the scene.

One of the assailants is described as being at least 6ft, another 5ft 8in and heavy set. They are described as "builder, tarmac driver, or jobber types".

Detective Inspector Martin Youngs, leading the inquiry, said: "The two-year anniversary of his death is a perfect time to try and jog the public's memory. Somebody must know who is responsible for this attack.

"We know that Paul told a number of people about the assault including the fact that three male attackers used his name when they assaulted him.

"We need that one telephone call. We are relying on someone in the community to come forward.

"We want to see Paul's killers brought to justice so that we can ease his family's grief and help them get on with their lives."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Totton police station on 0845 045 45 45 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.