The atmosphere in Sticker Lane, Bradford, is one of bemusement and intrigue today following the murder of used car dealer Teddy Simpson.

At the car lot and stone dealer's yard that belonged to 56-year-old Mr Simpson, white boiler-suited scenes of crime officers continue to sift through potential evidence at the detached 19th century house.

The building appeared incongruous in the car lot cum masonry yard, the only other structure being a small portable cabin.

A solitary red flag flew above the yard, and in the window of the house a single red rose had been placed in a vase at an upstairs window.

Floral tributes had been placed by the police cordon.

One read: "To Big Brother Ted. I miss you so much, Jane".

On a second was printed: "Rest in Peace brother. I never stopped loving you, Big Sis Sylvia".

Traders and residents of Sticker Lane appeared to know little of the businessman who suffered a violent attack at his home on Wednesday evening.

One man thought Mr Simpson might have sold his brother a second-hand car. A businessman showed a spark of recognition at the name but said he did not wish to be "dragged into it".

At a van hire firm next door to Mr Simpson's premises, a staff member said he had never seen the murdered man in the two months he had been there.

"We're just as curious as everyone else," he said.

In several pubs and shops the murder was the main topic of conversation but no-one seemed to know the victim.

A shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said Mr Simpson had come into the shop to buy cigarettes quite regularly - but that it had been years ago.

"I used to see him in here, he said. "I never really spoke to him, he was just another customer," he said.

"A customer this morning told me that it might have been a business deal that went wrong or that he might have owed money, but I don't really listen to that kind of thing. It's none of my business."