What we know as five children arrested over 'murder' of dog walker, 80, in Leicester park

Five children, including three 12-year-olds, have been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 80-year-old man died following an assault in a park.

Leicestershire Police has launched a murder investigation after the man died in hospital because of injuries sustained in the attack.

The force said he was the victim of a serious assault in Franklin Park in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, at about 6.30pm on Sunday.

What we know

The elderly man was walking his dog in the park when he was the victim of a "serious assault", police said.

He is believed to have been wearing a black jumper and grey jogging bottoms at the time of the incident, which took place close to the park entrance in Bramble Way.

Police said a group of "young people" fled the scene before the emergency services arrived.

A boy and a girl aged 14, and one boy and two girls, all aged 12, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. They are all currently being interviewed by police.

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What we don't know

The 80-year-old victim has not yet been identified, while the circumstances surrounding his death are not yet known.

Before his death, the man's daughter said he had been taken to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham with spinal injuries.

She told Leicestershire Live: "He had been taking the dog for a walk. He was about 30 seconds away from getting home when he was attacked."

Police said they want to speak to anyone who was in the park or the area of Bramble Way between 6pm and 6.45pm on Sunday.

Detectives are speaking to residents in the area to gather as much information as possible, the force said.

Leicestershire Police said it had prior contact with the victim before his death, but no details have emerged of what this entailed.

The force said it will make a voluntary referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) because of this prior contact.