A MAN who died after an horrific beating in Lancaster on Sunday night has left a grieving wife and two children behind. Allan Curtis and friend Andrew Parker were set upon in a violent attack on Mainway in Skerton, sparking a massive murder hunt across the city. Mr Curtis, 41, died at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary at 6pm on Monday evening from severe injuries after systematic blows to the head. Mr Parker was also and treated but has since been discharged from hospital.

Heather Curtis, Allan's wife, lives in their home town of Barrow-in-Furness with three-year-old twins Emma and Gregory. They are still coming to terms with the tragedy.

Mrs Curtis said: "The twins have been asking where's Daddy, I said he was just poorly and now he's gone to heaven. I was by his bedside when he died. He was a joker and was always jolly. Allan wasn't aggressive, he just wasn't like that."

A special murder hunt has been launched by detectives who are trying to piece together the night's events.

Just before midnight, Mr Curtis - who worked at the Celtech paper factory in Lancaster - and Mr Parker, 34, were walking back to their home on Asbourne Drive in the city. Allan had been performing a gig at the Crown Inn on St Leonard's Gate earlier that night.

Mr Parker said: "We turned around and they just jumped on us. We didn't have a chance they just jumped all over our heads." He added that he fell in and out of consciousness as he wandered the streets trying to find help."

Shortly after the attack a woman discovered Mr Curtis lying in the middle of the road about 200 yards from Skerton Bridge. Andrew was later found in a dazed condition.

Allan was admitted to the intensive care ward at the RLI and died about 15 hours later. A post mortem by Home Office pathologist Edmund Tapp has revealed he died from injuries to the brain caused by multiple head wounds. At the moment police have no evidence to believe a weapon was used. Det Supt Graham Gooch, who is heading the investigation, said they believe between two and three attackers were involved and they may have been sprayed with blood before fleeing the scene.

He said: "The obvious motive for the attack is robbery. Mr Curtis was carrying a guitar and an aluminium flight case which are both missing.

"It was a sudden and very violent attack on people walking in the street doing no harm to a soul and that makes it very serious. That is why we are anxious to get the matter cleared up and put the people responsible before the courts and to do that we need the help of the public. If anyone might have seen anything please come forward."

Three men were being questioned by the police in connection with the attack. Ring Lancaster Police on 63333 if you can help with inquiries.

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