DETECTIVES probing the brutal murder of York father-of-four Michael Brolly are due to make more arrests this week.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Barlow, head of York CID, said the inquiry team was set to arrest and question a further four people in connection with the case by the end of the week.

The arrests will bring the total number of people arrested in relation to the incident to 11.

A man and a woman who were due to answer bail at York police station yesterday have had their bail extended until November 8.

Another three men and a woman are on police bail and a man who was arrested on the night of the murder has been released from bail.

Inquiries are focusing on people suspected of being involved in the fight, which started in Edwards bar, in George Hudson Street, and led to Mr Brolly, 34, being chased into Low Ousegate, where he was attacked and sustained fatal injuries.

They are also concerned with those suspected of being involved in the incident in Low Ousegate itself.

Det Chief Insp Barlow said his team had interviewed more than 300 people and that the investigation was progressing well.

Mr Brolly, who lived in Margaret Street, York, died in York District Hospital shortly after being attacked outside Johnsons dry cleaners in Low Ousegate by a group of about seven people on Sunday, September 16.

Police launched an extensive investigation into the killing, with officers removing 17 paving stones from the site for forensic tests. A week after the murder, officers took to the streets to interview drinkers and clubbers about the fatal night's tragic events.

Eye-witnesses told how they had seen Mr Brolly being pursued across Ouse Bridge by a group before being kicked as he lay on the pavement in Low Ousegate.

* Jason Rodney Hodgson, aged 32, of St Catherine's Place, Holgate Road, York, who has been charged with affray, is on bail and is due to return to York Magistrates Court on November 9.

Updated: 10:55 Thursday, October 25, 2001