Further time to quiz OAP murder suspect

Detectives were tonight continuing to question a man in connection with the murder of a pensioner whose battered body was found on the seafront of a holiday town in Britain.

Officers were granted a magistrates warrant to detain the 36-year-old man from Southend, Essex, for a further 24 hours until 4.15pm tomorrow.

Frank Thain, 74, of Beresford Road, Walthamstow, east London, was found dead on Southend seafront yesterday. His body was discovered at Marine Parade which is opposite a line of amusement arcades.

A post-mortem examination found he had died from multiple head and upper body injuries.

Mr Thain was single and his next of kin was a brother who lives in London, an Essex Police spokesman said.

Police hope that anyone who may have seen the victim in the area yesterday at about 2am will come forward.

A 28-year-old man, who was also arrested yesterday, was released without charge.