Third murder arrest after Christmas Day pub row death

A third person has been arrested on suspicion of murder after man who was hit by a car on Christmas Day died.

Kirk Marsden, 37, was injured outside The Gate bar on the corner of Moorgate Street, Blackburn, just after 16:45 GMT on Wednesday following reports of a row, Lancashire Constabulary said.

The force said a 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday evening, with a 58-year-old man of no fixed address and a 35-year-old man from Blackburn having also been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Mr Marsden’s family said he was “a well-loved son, brother and uncle who will be sorely missed”, adding: “Rest with your dad now in heaven.”

The family said: “To our hero, spread your wings far and wide, your partner Leanne and your babies love you millions.

“You really were like no other, goodnight.”

Police said the 58-year-old man had been released on conditional bail, while the other two men who were arrested remained in custody.

Mr Marsden, who was from Blackburn, suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser, police said.

He died in the early hours of Boxing Day at Royal Preston Hospital.

Officers recovered the vehicle from a car park in Brindle Street. The force said it had been driven away from the bar on to Livesey Branch Road.

Det Ch Insp Bryony Midgley said the case was being treated as an “isolated incident”.

The force has appealed for anyone who witnessed what happened to come forward.