POLICE have pledged to continue the hunt for the killer of a football fan who was found dead two years ago.

John Roberts’s body was discovered on Sunday, December 16, 2012, in his house in Park Terrace, Winlaton, Gateshead.

The 32-year-old Newcastle supporter, nicknamed The Badge, had suffered a serious injury.

Despite arrests being made, no-one has been charged with the crime.

Det Supt Roger Ford, of Northumbria Police, said: "We are still searching for the person, or people, who killed John Roberts and in the last two years we have spoken to thousands of people as part of the investigation.

“We have carried out enquiries throughout Gateshead and spoken to many people who knew John.

"This is still very much an active enquiry and we are continuing to follow new leads and are re-examining evidence every day.

“We continue to appeal to the public for any information that could help us solve John's murder.

“We want to hear from anyone with any information, even after two years, and would urge them to come forward and speak to us.

"I'd like to praise the Roberts family for the courage they have shown since they lost John, they have been fully supportive of the police and the investigation and they just want to know who killed their son.

"I want to let them know, and send a message to the wider public as well, that we will not stop looking until we find those responsible for John's murder and bring them to justice."

In a statement, the Roberts family said: "We would like to thank the police for their hard work over the last two years and we still hope that someone out there knows something that might help them catch the person, or people, who killed John.

"We miss John, and at this time of the year it's particularly difficult for the family.

“All we want is to see justice be done. I'd ask that if anyone has any information, even after two years, to come forward and speak up."

In June 2013 police amde a video reconstruction of John Roberts' last known movements in an attempt to jog people's memories.

The video can be viewed here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot2b89fhSCc

Anyone who has any information into the unsolved murder of John Roberts is asked to contact police on 101 extension 69191.