THE family of this Liverpool man have urged witnesses to his murder to come forward.

Sean Finnan, 22, was stabbed in the leg and hit over the head with a metal bar in Stockbridge Village while trying to recover his teenage brother’s stolen bike.

Mr Finnan died on Friday night four days after the attack.

Three people arrested on suspicion of murder yesterday morning were still being held by police today.

Merseyside police executed warrants at three addresses in Stockbridge Village arresting two men, aged 21 and 19, and a 17-year-old youth, all from the local area.

Today his parents Rose and Joe said their son’s "tragic death had totally devastated" family and friends.

A statement issued by Merseyside police said: "Rose and Joe Finnan would like to urge people to come forward if they have any information that could assist Merseyside police with their investigation in to the death of their son, to call the police directly or if there are other reasons preventing them doing so to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

The stolen bike Mr Finnan was trying to recover has since been found in woodland near Little Wood Lodge between the M57 and the B5194 road in Knowsley.

Mr Finnan, who lived with his family in Childwall, went to Stockbridge Village in a Transit van to meet a group he thought might have his 14-year-old brother’s new Christmas bike.

Thieves had struck the day before at Chelwood Road, Broadgreen, when the teenager stopped to speak to a group of friends and propped the Silver Fox mountain bike up against a nearby fence.

Sean made a series of phone calls to try to find out who stole the bike before driving out to recover it.

Anyone with information is urged to call the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.