THE family of a man who died four months after being attacked at his home have appealed to the public for help in catching his killer..

Albert Bishop, 74, known to most as “Taffy” suffered serious head injuries in the attack at his terraced home in Hythe Road, Willesborough, Ashford, on March 18, which was Mothering Sunday.

He recovered sufficiently to be allowed to return from hospital to the home he shared with his daughter and grandsons, but fell on June 30, broke his hip and subsequently died on July 13.

A Home Office pathologist ruled that Mr Bishop had not recovered from the brutal attack and therefore his death should be treated as murder.

On the day of the attack Mr Bishop had left his home at 6am for Ashford Market on the Orbital Park, where he helped at a grocery stall and also sold imported cigarettes.

He returned home at around midday and was attacked almost immediately in the hall of his home by a man wielding a ball pein hammer.

His daughter, Sarah, found him seriously injured when she came home minutes later.

At the time Mr Bishop was only able to tell detectives that his attacker had been a white man in his 50s who stole a large quantity of cash and left with it in a blue Nike rucksack containing his grandson's work boots.

In an emotional interview at Ashford police headquarters on Tuesday, his two daughters called on the Ashford community to come forward and help catch the killer.

Sarah Bishop said: “Somebody out there knows the killer. It could be your father or grandfather. He had no enemies and was always helping others, the kind of man who would offer his last sandwich to a tramp.

“Police tell us they are getting little information coming forward from the public so as a family we appeal to people to help police solve this horrific crime.”

She was being comforted by her sister, Amanda Reynolds, who said: “It is difficult to lose someone you love so much in such an awful way. Someone out there knows something and the police need to get all the information available about his final hours.”

Det Insp Lee Whitehead said: “All calls will of course be treated in confidence. The initial attack was treated as an attempted murder, and extensive investigations were conducted in the area.”

“We are now dealing with a murder and are again appealing to anyone who knew Mr Bishop, or bought cigarettes from him, to contact the Major Crime incident room on 01303 289600.”

At the time of the attack people were leaving the Baptist church opposite Mr Bishop's house, and there is also a bus stop outside the property.