Detectives have launched a murder investigation after a man seriously injured in a street brawl died in hospital.

Local man Michael Tierney, 33, was found with serious injuries in Haig Avenue at around 10.55pm on Tuesday.

He succumbed to his injuries today, following the attack which is thought to have involved several men.

Police arrested a 26-year-old man from Chatham on suspicion of attempted murder, while a 27-year-old woman, also from the town, has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both remain in police custody.

A 26-year-old man arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of assault has since been released without charge.

Kent Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses.

Detective Inspector Ivan Beasley of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "This is now being treated as a murder investigation and I would like to reiterate that we are appealing for information.

"Two people are in police custody, but I would urge anyone who might have witnessed the incident or has any information however small you might think it is, to come forward and assist us with our enquiries."

Leonard Ostheimer, a former soldier who now belongs to the band of the Corps of Royal Engineers, lives nearby and said yesterday: “I was woken up at about 2.30am by all the lights but I didn’t pay much attention until the morning, as emergency vehicles often use this road as a cut through.

“I’m on the police committee for Kent and went to speak to some of the officers.

“They said they had about three quarters of the team out for the incident at the moment and they have locked down the entire estate (White Road Estate).

“They were trying to keep people away.

“It meant school children couldn’t get up Haig Avenue and buses have been re-routed.

“One woman who went up to the cordon to go past and the officer said ‘madam if you go under that tape I will have to arrest you’. They’re just doing their jobs.

“They’re got officers down from all over the county. One of them jokingly said to me that the rest of Kent is empty.”

The area, on the corner of the White Road estate, is known for drug dealing and Mr Ostheimer added: “It’s unbelievable.

“We had 40 vehicles turn up here on Christmas Eve to get hold of it.

“It’s openly done, there’s a man in a black Lexus who just parks up and deals from his car.

“The police presence is better than it was and they are quick to react if you make a call.

“But it’s times like this you realise what police cut backs mean. We need more police with powers on the street.”

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