A MURDER inquiry was under way today after a father-of-two's body was found on a footpath near a Southampton supermarket.

The body of Edward Maddick, 45, was discovered collapsed on a cut-way by a woman walking her dog in William Macleod Way, Millbrook, about 9.15am yesterday.

Police said the 45-year-old married builder, who had a teenage son and daughter, had suffered serious head injuries.

Murder squad detectives were today piecing together Mr Maddick's final movements.

It is understood he had been socialising at pubs in the Shirley area on Saturday evening but had not been seen since about midnight.

Meanwhile his devastated family were too upset to comment at their home in Bampton Close, Millbrook.

Police said Mr Maddick was a builder by trade but had not worked recently.

A post-mortem carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Hugh White at Southampton General Hospital last night confirmed the cause of death had been severe head injuries.

Forensic experts were called in to make a fingertip search of the pathway while detectives carried out house-to-house inquiries in the area. CCTV footage was also being examined.

A squad of 20 officers was today working on the inquiry from an incident room at Hulse Road divisional police headquarters in Southampton.

The investigation, codenamed Operation Erskine, is being led by Det Chief Insp Martin Fothering-ham.

Today part of Tebourba Way near the Tesco supermarket remained sealed off while investigations continued at the scene.

Hampshire police spokeswoman Lucy Dibdin said: "The time of death is not known but information received suggests that he was not on the footpath before midnight.

"Mr Maddick was casually dressed in jeans, trainers and a T-shirt. Anyone who was in the area or saw anything suspicious is urged to contact the Operation Erskine incident room."

Detectives said the woman who found the body ran to nearby Tebourba Way, where she flagged down a motorist who called Hampshire Ambulance Service.

Police then immediately closed off the carriageway between Romsey Road and William Macleod Way.

The path where Mr Maddick was found is a popular short-cut used by local people to get to the nearby Tesco supermarket.

Police believe residents may have seen or heard something suspicious as they walked to the late-night kiosk at the Tesco garage, or returned to Millbrook estate after a night out.

Detectives want to hear from anyone who was in the area between midnight on Saturday and 6am yesterday.

Call the Operation Erskine team at Hulse Road on 0845 045 4545, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.