A man arrested by police investigating the death of a man found with head injuries on a footpath has been released on bail after questioning.

The 27-year-old local man was taken into police custody and interviewed before being released on Saturday.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "He has now been released on bail to attend York police station at a later date. Inquiries into the incident are continuing."

He said police would not be revealing the man's identity at this stage.

David Williamson was found on a roadside path at 5.30am last Monday, a few hundred yards from his home at Sutton-on-the-Forest, near Easingwold.

The 57-year-old had suffered a fractured skull. He died later in hospital.

Police search teams have been examining the roadside and fields between the spot where he was found and the Star Inn, Huby, which Mr Williamson had visited on Sunday.

Updated: 11:17 Monday, April 02, 2001