Man was 'victim of happy slappers'

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Police said they are "keeping an open mind" about reports that Stephen Croft was attacked by youths who filmed themselves on mobile phones as they wielded a flaming log.

The 34-year-old's body was discovered on a bonfire by fire crews attending the Guy Fawkes night blaze in Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside. Mr Croft had suffered head injuries and severe burns.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said on Wednesday: "We are not confirming or denying these reports. We are still conducting interviews. We are not going to speculate as to what happened.

"Until officers have concluded interviews with the three being held, police are keeping an open mind."

A 13-year-old boy was arrested on Tuesday morning, followed later by a 19-year-old man and a boy aged 17. They remain in police custody.

Officers hope today to establish the cause of death of Mr Croft following a post mortem examination, carried out late on Tuesday night by a Home Office pathologist.

The unauthorised bonfire, and a small fireworks display, took place on Monday night and is thought to have been organised by a group of local residents.

Firefighters were called to the scene at around 1am and Mr Croft's body was found.

The police witness appeal is focusing on the area around the bonfire, on the Quarry Bank grassland between Borough Road and Whetstone Lane, Birkenhead, in the hour leading up to the fire crew's grim find.