A MURDER inquiry began in Clydebank yesterday after a 28-year-old man

who was attacked outside a busy hotel on Friday night died of his

injuries in hospital.

Mr John McCrae, who was single, was attacked while leaving the Radnor

Park Hotel with friends by two men. He was initially taken to the

Western Infirmary with serious head and shoulder injuries, but was later

transferred to the Southern General for specialist treatment where he

died yesterday morning.

Police are now interviewing the estimated 70 to 130 people who were in

the hotel at the time to try to discover a motive for the attack. It is

believed they are following a definite line of inquiry.

Detective Chief Inspector James McEwan said they had received a good

response so far, but they were keen to speak to everyone who was in the

Radnor Park on Friday night. He promised that any information would be

treated in confidence.

A neighbour of Mr McCrae's from Alexander Street in Clydebank, Mr

Stewart Anderson, was also injured in the attack, and is recovering in

hospital from serious cuts to his leg and shoulder.

A second attack took place less than two hours later and about a mile

away at another Clydebank hotel, the Cameron House, when steward

Crawford McKechnie, 28, from Milngavie, was slashed across both hands.

So far there is no indication that the attacks were linked.