A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 64-year-old man was found collapsed on a barge and later died.

Maurice Batts died in hospital yesterday after he was found in his boat on the canal at Southam Road in Banbury with severe injuries in September.

Today a post-mortem result showed his death was caused by a 'blunt trauma'.

Police are treating the death as suspicious and earlier arrested a 52-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

He is currently in custody being quizzed at Banbury Police Station.

Det Supt George Turner said: "I would like to repeat my appeal for anyone with information about Maurice's death or the days leading up to it to contact me.

"I am particularly keen to hear from anybody who saw or spoke to Maurice between Thursday 27 and Saturday 29 September. He was found collapsed on the evening of 29 September and taken to hospital.

"Any information, no matter how insignificant you think it is, could prove vital to establishing his movements and how he died."

Anyone with information should contact Det Supt Turner via 0845 8 505 505 quoting the reference URN 312 of 9 October.

If you do not wish to speak to police or give your name you can call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.