A MURDER inquiry has been launched after a man who was attacked with a machete on Christmas Eve died.

Martin David Rankin was slashed about the head with a machete during an attack at a house in Radcliffe.

Mr Rankin, aged 37, was staying at a house in Glenvale Close when he was attacked in the early hours of Christmas Eve by a caller at the house.

He suffered serious wounds to his head and was taken to Fairfield General Hospital and later transferred to Hope Hospital in Salford where he underwent emergency surgery. Mr Rankin, who is from Radcliffe, remained in a critical condition and died on New Year's Eve.

Paramedics alerted the police after they arrived at the address on Christmas Eve and discovered Mr Rankin had been struck over the head several times with a machete.

Officers cordoned off the area while a forensic examination was carried out.

The attack is believed to have been linked to an incident earlier in the week.

Det Insp Simon Collier, of Whitefield CID said: "A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out.

"We don't have a motive at this stage but believe it is linked to an incident at the house earlier in the week.

"I would appeal to anyone with information about the attack on Mr Rankin to come forward.

"I would also like to speak to anyone who was using the phone box in Cross Lane between 1am and 2am on Christmas Eve to contact the police."

Anyone with information should call Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8152 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.