DETECTIVES have launched a murder investigation after a man died following an attack outside a Bournemouth supermarket.

Police are appealing for witnesses after 40-year-old Bournemouth man Andrew Young died in hospital following the altercation near the Tesco Express store in Charminster Road.

The incident happened at around 3.25pm on Wednesday and police said this afternoon that Mr Young sustained a serious injury.

He later died at Southampton General Hospital.

Detectives said Mr Young was involved in a fight with a black man riding a bike and was then punched by another man, who was wearing a beanie hat.

Also present was a woman wearing a green coat.

Next of kin and the coroner have been informed.

Detective Inspector Marcus Hester, of the Dorset Police Major Crime Team, said: “I am keen to speak with the man wearing the hat as soon as possible to ascertain exactly what happened.

“I urge him to come forward as soon as possible.”

He is described as a man in his early 20s, of mixed race and between 5ft 8in and 6ft tall.

He was wearing a grey hooded top with a logo across the front and a dark grey beanie hat.

Locals have reacted with shock over the death.

Mandy Huntington, from Charminster Dry Cleaners, said: “I saw the poor gentleman with a large bloody cut on his head lying on the pavement. It took a while for him to be moved into the ambulance as he was very shaky.

“Police told me he was really not in a good way.”

Amer, from Metro market, next to Tesco Express, checked over the CCTV footage that recorded the incident.

He said: “The tapes show a cyclist who was riding his bike on the pavement. He comes across a pedestrian and they start having an argument.

“The man on the bike continued cycling, then the pedestrian got punched by another man on the street.

“The cyclist then came back to check on the man who had been punched.” Zac Zaki, the owner of Southern Fried Chicken Express said: “It is a really sad story. It’s shocking and not something you expect to happen on your doorstep.”

DI Hester has reassured members of the public following the launch of the investigation.

He said: “The public do not need to be concerned.

“However, we’d welcome information from anyone who can help officers piece together what has happened.”

He added: “We are not currently aware of the motive, but this will form part of our investigation.

“Officers from the Major Crime Team will be working now to go through all of the circumstances and deal with this as quickly as possible.”

He added: “I would also like to speak with an older man and woman who I believe were nearby at the time. The woman was wearing a white woollen hat. They are not involved but may be witnesses.

“Due to the time of day of this incident others may have seen or heard something that can assist the investigation.

“Witnesses and anyone with information are asked to contact the police urgently on 101. All calls are treated with the strictest confidence."

A 19-year-old London man has been arrested and released without charge.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101, quoting incident number 06:243.

Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.