POLICE were today guarding a suspect in hospital following the murder of a 50-year-old man outside a Hampshire house.

The victim's body was discovered by police on the ground outside a home in Cranbury Avenue, pictured, in the Newtown area of Southampton.

Police have not named the victim, but confirm they have identified him and are trying to contact his next of kin.

The murder inquiry, codenamed Operation Stakehill, was launched after witnesses called officers to a fracas at the junction of Cranbury Avenue with Denzil Avenue at 1.45am on Good Friday.

The incident left one 50-year-old man in hospital with what are understood to be non-life threatening injuries. As a result of the call, officers were led to a nearby Georgian house subdivided into flats, where they made the grim discovery.

Last night murder squad detectives, who are working from a major incident room at Hulse Road, were waiting to interview the suspect in hospital.

Officers also continued to quiz a second suspect after they were granted authority by magistrates to detain him for a further 36 hours.

Meanwhile, police said two other suspects had been released on bail without charge to return to a police station at a later date.

Det Supt Andy Stewart, leading the murder inquiry, told the Daily Echo it was not believed that the fracas which police were originally called to was directly related to the murder.

He added that no knives or firearms were involved in the incident but the cause of death was not being released at the current time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the major incident room on 0845 045 4545 or contact the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.