THE family of murdered Bishop's Stortford man Scott Newman have issued an emotional appeal for information to help catch his killer.

Scott, 34, was attacked in an alleyway off Riverside Walk in the early hours of Sunday, July 9, after he left the Falcon pub in Station Road. He died from a single blow to the head, and was found by a passer-by at 2.25am.

Recently Scott's brother Glyn, 40, flanked by sister Paula Chamberlain, 37, spoke for the first time of the family's anguish.

Visibly shaken, Mr Newton said: 'Scott was a warm-hearted, friendly man. He was compassionate and honest. If Scott could help anyone he would. He was always there for others, a shoulder to lean on and someone to give advice. Scott wouldn't hurt a fly. He was a true gentleman.'

Mr Newman said his brother was a friend, son, grandson and uncle who was loved by all his family.

He said of his brother's killer: 'We can't understand why someone has done this and we are all devastated. Whoever did this to our brother has taken our lives as well.'

Stifling tears, Mr Newman urged anyone with information about his brother to come forward 'no matter how small or trivial' the information seemed.

Detective Superintendent Bob Saunders, who is heading the inquiry codenamed Operation Aestival, said police had now established that Scott withdrew £20 from the Nationwide cashpoint in South Street at about midnight ? his last confirmed point of contact.

However, police would like to speak to a white woman aged 25 to 35 who was seen in Riverside Walk in the early hours of the Sunday morning. She has been called 'a vital witness'.

Police now believe sightings of Mr Newman at a nightclub occurred at different times or were cases of mistaken identity. One such sighting, believed to have occurred on Saturday, is now thought to have been on Friday.

Mr Saunders said: 'We are now concentrating on the sightings we have confirmed.'

Police are still to establish a motive or find a murder weapon, although a number of items including bricks and concrete bollards have been taken away for analysis.

Officers have also interviewed more than 100 people and are trawling through 30 CCTV tapes taken from the town centre.

Mr Saunders said information from the gay community was being sought, because Scott's sexuality could provide an idea as to motive. Both male and female gay officers will help man phonelines.

Last week, it was revealed that Scott had been involved in the Bishop's Stortford gay scene, although he had been involved in heterosexual relationships in the past.