POLICE launched a murder investigation after a man died following an incident outside a pub.

Police and paramedics were called to the Lugger Inn, Chickerell at around 9.30pm on Saturday following a reported assault on a 34-year-old local man.

Officers say the man sustained serious head injuries during the incident and was treated at the scene before being rushed to Dorset County Hospital, where he later died.

Weymouth Police cordoned off the pub and put up a tarpaulin over the road to preserve evidence while crime scene investigators examined the scene and officers conducted house-to-house inquiries.

Police Scene of Crime Officers in white protective suits carried out a detailed forensic search both inside and outside the pub throughout yesterday morning.

The pub remained closed during the morning as police issued an appeal for anyone who had been on the premises from Saturday lunchtime onwards to contact them immediately.

Meanwhile, a postmortem was conducted on the deceased by Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue at Dorset County Hospital.

The landlord of the Lugger Inn, John Parker, said he was ‘shocked and very concerned’ about the incident, adding that he has never had problems like this at his pub before.

Police said two local men, aged 30 and 31, were arrested at the pub just after 9.30pm on Saturday and were being questioned on suspicion of murder.

A police spokesman said: Detectives have launched a murder investigation after a man was reportedly assaulted outside the pub.

“We are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward in confidence, particularly anyone who was at the Lugger Inn from lunchtime on Saturday.

“We would urge people to contact the police on (01305) 222222 or Crime stoppers on 0800 555111.”

Meanwhile, Chickerell residents and holidaymakers in the area were shocked to learn of the suspected murder – adding that the coastal area is normally quiet and peaceful.

Fiona Fryer, 45, of Chickerell Road was not aware of the incident until she walked past the police cordon yesterday morning.

She said: “It’s really very scary and frightening.

“I walk through here very often and my husband comes here infrequently for a drink but I had no idea this had happened.

“We moved here from London last August to escape this kind of thing - the rat race – and build a quieter future here.

“At least that’s what you would have thought.”

Sharon Dennett, 43, of The Knapp, said: “I would have said this is normally a quiet area and nothing ever really happens around here, so it was certainly a surprise to see all these police officers outside the pub.”

Holidaymaker PC John Walker, 44, of Bedfordshire Police, was staying in a holiday home near the pub with his family when the incident occurred.

He said: “I do find this very surprising but, then again, these kinds of incidents can occur in any setting.

“It’s surprising because this is a quiet little village and it’s very sad to think that someone has gone out for a night out and now will not be coming home.

“Somewhere right now there will be a family going through hell over this.”

PC Walker added that he and his family had never visited Chickerell before but came here because it is ‘a beautiful coastal area and a nice, quiet little place.’ PC Walker’s mother-in-law Nancy Lakin, 71, said: “I woke up at about 4.30am on Sunday and looked out the window to see all these officers around and a cordon up around the pub.

“When you see something like that you tend to think: ‘My God – what’s happened?’ It makes you feel very sorry for the family of this person, whoever he is.”