A "GENTLE giant" was murdered in Bolton town centre by a single blow from an attacker who left him for dead.

Robert Farnworth, aged 33, was knocked off balance by the blow and suffered a fractured skull when he banged his head on the ground.

The 6ft 5ins tall driver died in a hospital's intensive care unit a day after he was spotted unconscious on the pavement in Coe Street on the outskirts of the town centre early last Sunday.

Murder squad detectives on Friday night sealed off Coe Street as they mounted a fingertip search for clues of the area near to where Mr Farnworth was discovered.

Police believe Mr Farnworth's mobile phone, which is still missing, could lead them to the killer.

The man leading the hunt for the killer, Det Chief Insp Keith Dillon, appealed for anyone who witnessed the attack or saw Mr Farnworth in the area to come forward.

The police chief said: "Mr Farnworth was a well-built man who has been described as a gentle giant. We are trying to piece together the circumstances that led to his death.

"If anyone saw him on Coe Street or before he reached Coe Street, we need them to come forward and help us with the investigation."

Mr Farnworth's parents, Alan and Christine, whom he lived with in Bradford Road, Great Lever, were too upset to comment.

Mr Farnworth was attacked in Coe Street as he was walking to a friend's house after a night out with friends in the town centre last Saturday.

He had earlier watched the England football match against Northern Ireland before heading to bars around Nelson Square.

Detectives said he was discovered collapsed on Coe Street at around 12.25am on Sunday by the driver of a dark-coloured saloon car who stopped to help him before driving to Bridgeman Street for help.

He approached a couple who were walking near Sainsburys supermarket and told them to call the emergency services.

The driver then told an Asian man who was in the area to stand on the street corner to direct the arriving ambulance.

The saloon driver, however, returned to his car and drove away.

Mr Farnworth was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital for treatment to head injuries before being transferred to the neurological unit at Chorley Hospital where he died on Monday morning.

A post mortem examination revealed he had suffered a single blow to the chin and subsequently suffered a fractured skull in the fall..

Police changed the focus of their investigation to a murder inquiry on Friday and an incident room has been set up at a police station in Bury.

Specialist search teams spent two hours looking for Mr Farnworth's Nokia 6210 mobile phone and other clues in the Coe Street area.

Detectives are also intending to interview prostitutes who use the area, but said there was nothing to suggest that Mr Farnworth had been in the area for sex.

Det Chief Insp Dillon said: "We know that Robert had been with friends in Nelson Square after watching the England football match and we would be very keen to speak to anyone who can help us piece together his movements after he left the town centre.

"We have been successful in tracing a number of witnesses but we are still very keen for people to come forward.

"As a result of the post-mortem examination, we believe that Robert suffered a single blow to the chin with a blunt object, possibly a fist, and then suffered a fractured skull.

"At this stage we can not be sure that he even suffered the injuries on Coe Street.

"His phone which he had with him earlier in the evening is still missing which may indicate that he was the victim of a robbery."

A neighbour said: "We are very close around here and we knew the family very well. Robert was a friendly and warm man."

Another neighbour said: "They are a lovely family and it's difficult to take in what's happened."

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 0161 856 8183 or Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111. All calls will be treated in confidence.