DETECTIVES are treating the death of a North-East father-of-three as suspicious, it was revealed last night.

John Lacy of Fryer Crescent, Darlington, died from a brain haemorrhage on Tuesday, nine days after he was assaulted by drunken revellers.

The 65-year-old, a committee member at Haughton-le-Skerne Workingmen's Club, had stepped in to help calm down a fight that broke out at a private function at the club when he was hit in the face.

Several other members of the committee were also assaulted and a member of the bar staff was hit with a chair during the incident on Sunday May 4.

Police said a post-mortem examination had been carried out on the former publican, who ran The Globe, in Whessoe Road, Darlington, for 19 years.

An incident room has been set up with a team of two dozen detectives from Darlington CID and Durham Constabulary's major crime unit working on the case.

The investigation is being headed by Detective Inspector Neil Redhead, of Durham Police.

Four Darlington men, aged 39, 22, 19 and 18, were arrested after the incident and are currently on police bail pending further inquiries. It is understood that three of the men are from the same family.

A police spokesman said: "Home office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper carried out a post mortem examination but further forensic tests could take some weeks to confirm the cause of death.

"Mr Lacy's death is being treated as suspicious."

Following the fracas, Mr Lacy was taken to the coronary care unit at Darlington Memorial after suffering a heart attack.

He appeared to be recovering. Mr Lacy regained consciousness and was talking to his family, but at the weekend he suffered a brain haemorrhage and was transferred to Middlesbrough General Hospital where his condition worsened and he died on Tuesday.