THREE people who were arrested on Wednesday (14 July) in connection with the death of a man in Northlands Park, in Basildon, are no longer in police custody.

Two men, aged 31 and 46, were arrested on suspicion of murder while a 17-year-old was also arrested on suspicion perverting the course of justice. Both men have been released on bail until 5 August , while the 17-year-old boy will face no further action.

In total, police have now made eight arrests in connection with the death of a man, aged in his 40s, who remains unnamed.

Officers were called to the park at 1.35am on Sunday where they found a man in his 40s with a stab wound to his stomach.

He was taken to hospital but later died there.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Scott Egerton, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This continues to be a very fast-moving and thorough investigation and we are leaving no stone un-turned.

"We know there may still be people out there who have information on this incident and have not yet come forward to speak to us and we would encourage them to do so.

"Each person who has been released on bail is still under police investigation and we anticipate making further arrests in the coming days and weeks."

If you have any information you can submit a report online at via this link] where you can use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am and 11pm. Quote incident 114 of 11 July. You can also call police on 101 or contact [L] https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ [L+]Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two men, aged 41 and 45, a 42-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy who were arrested on suspicion of murder have been released on bail until 6 August.

A 38-year-old woman arrested as part of the investigation will face no further action.