A murder investigation was under way today after a man was found unconscious with facial injuries in Queensbury last night.

Police were called to High Street Place to investigate reports of an assault and discovered him at 9.50pm.

The 41-year-old local man was taken to Calderdale Royal Infirmary in Halifax but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Detectives have revealed that the dead man was in the Tuckers pub earlier in the evening, where he might have been involved in an argument.

They are appealing for anyone who was drinking in the pub on High Street and saw an argument or fight, or saw anything near the Wheatsheaf pub, also on High Street, to contact them.

Police officers later arrested a 22-year-old local man in Queensbury on suspicion of murder and he is being held at Toller Lane police station awaiting questioning.

A police spokesman said a post-mortem examination was being carried out on the dead man by a Home Office pathologist today to discover the cause of death.

The identity of the dead man has not been released.

Police officers guarded the murder scene overnight and forensic examination got underway today once it was daylight.

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, who is heading the investigation, appealed for anyone with information to contact (01274) 376259.

Police officers were today protecting the scene at High Street Place, which was cordoned off from High Street newsagents to Bronte estate agents.

Richard Webb, who runs the newsagents, said he was alarmed to see police outside his shop at 6am.

"All I can gather is there's been some sort of fight last night and somebody died in the yard next to my shop," he said. "It's worrying that we have so many incidents like this in Queensbury. I don't know who the man is but we are all just waiting to see."

He also said most of High Street was closed last night while police carried out initial investigations.