THE father of murdered Hampshire builder Paul Booth has made a desperate appeal to find his son's killers - because he is dying.

Mick Booth wants to see the gang who brutally attacked his son and left him for dead brought to justice so that he can die a happy man.

Speaking on the fourth anniversary of his son's savage attack, Mr Booth, who now lives in Eastbourne, says he is battling with emphysema and stomach cancer - illnesses which he claims have been brought on by the stress and frustration of knowing the killers are still at large.

It was on February 5, 1999, when 31-year-old Paul Booth was attacked on a petrol station forecourt.

The father-of-two, of Blakeney Road, Millbrook, had stopped at the Esso garage on Ringwood Road, Totton, to buy cigarettes on his way to visit his girlfriend Caroline Williams at her home in Calmore.

He was set upon by a three-man gang, savagely attacked and then left for dead.

Mr Booth later went to Southampton General Hospital with his girlfriend to get treatment for his injuries but left because of long queues.

He was discovered 11 days later unconscious at his home. He lapsed into a coma and died on March 3, 1999, of a brain haemorrhage.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Mick Booth, 58, who has Paul's name tattooed accross his chest, said: "I just want these people responsible for my son's death to be caught before I die. I want to die a happy man.

"Paul was my mate, he was my blood. I just feel so frustrated. It's just totally unfair."

Meanwhile, detectives hunting Mr Booth's killers have today renewed their appeal for a mystery caller - who they believe could hold the key to solving the murder investigation - to make contact again.

The man, thought to be local, called Lyndhurst police on March 3, 2001, with information but refused to give his name. He made a second call when an appeal was made this time last year to help catch the killers on BBC's Crimewatch, but he declined to meet detectives.

In his call, the man described a conversation in a Totton pub between men discussing the attack and gave details of specific individuals. Det Insp Martin Youngs, heading the inquiry, said: "We are as determined as ever to find Mr Booth's killers, to see justice done and to enable his family to get on with their lives.

"We are still very reliant on people coming forward with information and in particular we want this elusive witness to get in contact with us. We have offered him all sorts of assurances and believe he holds crucial information that could be the key to finding out what has happened.

"I would like him to know that we will protect his identity - we just need him to come forward. He is obviously very reluctant but I am sure that if he did meet us, which we will do on his terms and at a place of his choice, we could reassure him."

Detectives have been looking at a number of motives for the attack, including the possibility that Mr Booth was known by his attackers who were warning him to stay away from Miss Williams, or that he was the victim of a road rage attack.

A £5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible is still available. Call Det Insp Youngs on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.