TWO men have been arrested in connection with the murder of student Joe Medforth.

Police in Preston made the double arrest last night, and were keeping the men in custody for questioning.

A post-mortem has been carried out, and the cause of death was given as blunt force to the head.

Forensic experts were today checking whether any marks were left on Joe's face when one of his attackers apparently stamped on him, in the hope this could provide clues to his killers' identities.

Detectives said the North Yorkshire student appeared to be making a good recovery in hospital, but then his condition deteriorated and he died with his father, Albert, at his bedside.

Joe, 21, was punched in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Then his attackers kicked him in the head and face.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, Joe had been returning from a night out in Preston, where he was living while studying psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, when he was attacked by two men in their late teens or early twenties, at about 3.15am on Saturday. He died the following afternoon.

His heartbroken family said they had been robbed "of the most gentle person in the world", while his former head teacher said his death had "shocked and stunned" the school community.

Detective Superintendent Paul Buschini, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "He has been singled out for a gratuitous attack by these two young men.

"We are very, very confident these two would have bragged about it to their friends, as the seriousness of the attack was not yet apparent. This is a motiveless, tragic murder of a young man who had everything to live for."

Detectives were today studying CCTV footage from the area near to the attack.

Former Tadcaster Grammar School pupil Joe came from Ryther, between York and Selby. His parents ran the post office at nearby Cawood for many years, and moved to Ryther a few years ago.

His mother, Susan, said: "He was the most gentle person in the world, and I don't know why they would have done this to him.

"Psychology was the perfect thing for him, and they have robbed the world of what he could have done with it."

Albert, 73, who was at Joe's bedside in the Royal Preston Hospital, said: "He kept drifting off to sleep and then waking up and saying: 'Hello Dad'.

"We just want them caught," he said.

"He was my future."

Joe's sister, Laura, 26, said: "They are just scum. He was so kind-hearted."

Geoff Mitchell, head teacher at Tadcaster Grammar School, said the murder would leave staff and pupils utterly devastated.

"Joe was a larger-than-life character that everybody knew - a nicer lad you couldn't wish to meet," he said.

"He was thoughtful and reflective and just very gentle - he was an absolute star."

He said Joe was interested in martial arts, and on the last day of term, as part of an annual event held by sixth-formers, he performed a staggering swords display with a friend.

He took A-levels in maths, physics, psychology, art and general studies, and took a year out before going on to university.

Mr Mitchell said the school would hold a special assembly today in memory of Joe.

Updated: 10:01 Tuesday, July 19, 2005