AN inquest was opened on Friday into the death of a farm worker near Blandford, while a murder investigation by police continues.

Marcin Arkadiusz Tameckza, a 25-year-old Polish national, worked as a dairyman at Hanford Farm, near Child Okeford, assistant coroner Victoria Cook heard. Police and paramedics were called to the farm on the evening of Friday, September 28, following reports of an altercation involving three men.

Speaking at the inquest in Bournemouth, coroner's officer Andrew Lord said: "Mr Tameckza was found unresponsive and, despite the best efforts of paramedics, was declared deceased at the scene that same evening." A post-mortem examination was carried out the day after his death at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

A preliminary opinion of the cause of death is traumatic basal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Police previously confirmed Mr Tameckza's injuries were as a result of 'blunt force trauma'.

The coroner stated at the inquest that police enquiries into his death were continuing, and a pre-inquest review would be held on April 25, 2019.

As previously reported, the force said its investigation had been hampered by the remote location of the alleged crime.

Hanford Farm is a dairy farm down a narrow track off Duck Street, although it is surrounded by several other properties.

However, the three men involved in the altercation were all known to each other.

Two Shaftesbury men, aged 25 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of murder, however the 25-year-old man was released on police bail and the 27-year-old man was released under investigation.

Police are still appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact them.