FIVE people have been arrested on suspicion of murdering James Attfield in Colchester.

Homes in Colchester, Ipswich and Southend were raided by armed police today.

Six people were arrested in total.

Two people, both aged 27 from Colchester, who had previously been arrested in connection with the murder have been re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

Three others, a 25-year-old woman from Southend, an 18-year-old man of no fixed abode and a 57-year-old man from Colchester have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A 23-year-old-woman from Ipswich was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

All six are being questioned at police stations across Essex and Suffolk.

A number of properties are still being searched.

Jim Attfield, 33, of East Bay, Colchester, was found shortly before 6am on Saturday, March 29, stabbed 102 times on a path near Castle Park.

The father-of-five was in the River Lodge pub the previous evening when he left a pint more than half full shortly after 10pm.

There were no more confirmed sightings until he was found on the path between Lower Castle Park and Guildford Road.

Two men arrested in connection with the murder of Jim Attfield had their bail extended on Wednesday.

The 33-year-olds from Colchester will answer bail again in September.