Three 14-year-old boys have been arrested by murder squad detectives investigating the death of a hospital worker.

The local boys were arrested in Bradford yesterday following the death of 31-year-old Tarquin Turner on Thursday night and were being questioned by officers.

Mr Turner, who worked as a housekeeper looking after elderly patients at St Catherine's Hospital in Manningham, was beaten about the head as he strolled for a pint and a game of dominoes at Undercliffe Cricket Club.

He was attacked at about 10pm by two youths, one thought to be aged around 14, and left for dead on a path close to the cricket pitch as 50 members enjoyed a night out in the clubhouse yards away. He died in Bradford Royal Infirmary from serious head injuries less than an hour later.

Police immediately launched a murder hunt, led by Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, and say they think the motive for the killing was robbery.

Detectives are still trying to establish whether a weapon was used in the attack.

Today, Det Supt Sedgwick said a post-mortem had confirmed Mr Turner had died from serious head and neck injuries.

He said they had not established how much money the victim was carrying when he was attacked, but knew he did not have his wallet with him.

He renewed an appeal for a woman driver and male passenger who left the club car park in a light-coloured car around the time of the killing to come forward.

Police are also seeking a 14-year-old boy, of average build and wearing dark clothing, who was seen crouched over Mr Turner shortly before he was found by club members, and a 20-year-old man who threatened an elderly witness and pushed him to the ground as he went to investigate.

The secretary of the cricket club, in Intake Road, said they had been plagued by gangs of teenagers invading the grounds.

Rodney Broadbent said the club had spent more than £3,000 to put up electronic security gates at the entrance after youngsters drove cars on the cricket square.

And he said they had called police on several occasions to remove youths.

"They come in at night and in the morning we have to clear up all their rubbish. We have also had drug addicts coming into the grounds to do deals.

"If we approach them we get abuse so we call the police and they move them on. But after a few weeks they are back again.

A spokesman for North Bradford Primary Care Trust, which manages St Catherine's Hospital, said of Mr Turner: "He was well liked by his colleagues and everyone at the hospital is shocked and saddened to hear of his death."

Anyone with information should call police on (01274) 376259, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.