DETECTIVES investigating the death of John McQueen have today (Friday, December 18th) arrested a man.

The 54-year-old was arrested after police stopped a car on Queensway in Blackpool at about 10.30am this morning.

The man, from St Annes, is currently in custody on suspicion of murder.

Police were called by the Ambulance Service around 10pm on Saturday (December 12) to a report a man had been found unconscious with head injuries outside Atlas takeaway on St David’s Road South.

The man, John McQueen, 53, from St Annes (pictured), was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for treatment. He later left the hospital and was found collapsed by a member of the public around 3am on Sunday morning close to a petrol station on Talbot Road in Blackpool.

He was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment but sadly died on Tuesday, December 15th.

A Home Office post-mortem examination has been carried out but further expert analysis is needed to establish a cause of death.

Police enquiries suggest Mr McQueen was attacked by a man who got out of a black car and assaulted him close to the takeaway.

Officers are appealing for information and are especially keen to speak to a white man, middle aged with a pony tail, who we believe was walking his Jack Russell dog in the area at the time of the assault

Det Ch Insp Jane Webb, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “This remains an extremely complex enquiry and while we have made an arrest for murder today our investigation is very much ongoing and we maintain an open mind about the nature of the investigation.

“We know Mr McQueen was assaulted close to the takeaway and we continue to appeal to anyone who saw what happened or who has any information to contact us.

“We would also like to speak to anyone who saw the victim after he left the hospital and before he was subsequently found collapsed on Talbot Road. Mr McQueen was wearing a grey vest with white writing on, underneath a black tracksuit top. He was also wearing black, possibly khaki tracksuit pants.

“Any information, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant, could be crucial to our investigation.

“My thoughts remain with Mr McQueen’s loved ones at this time.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log 1492 of December 12. Alternatively you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.