A MAN who died following an alleged assault in Torquay over the weekend has been named as Robert McColl.

The 42-year-old was found dead in his Melville Street home on Saturday afternoon. Police did not release any details of his death until Monday morning and have since been treating it as an unexplained death.

A post mortem examination revealed Mr McColl had suffered head injuries, but officers from Devon and Cornwall Police's major crime investigation team are as yet unable to say whether the injuries caused his death.

The investigation is not being treated as murder. A police spokesman said they were waiting for further medical tests to be conducted.

The investigation began on Saturday at 1.20pm when the ambulance service called police after they discovered the dead man.

Detectives are investigating allegations that an assault occurred some hours prior to the death being reported. It is understood there had been an altercation with another man who has ties to the flats in Melville Street.

Police have since arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of assault in connection with the allegations and he has been bailed until September 6 while police carry out further inquiries to try and establish the cause of death. A post-mortem examination been carried out.

Nick Burleigh, chairman of area's residents association, said the death and other incidents risk over-shadowing the work being achieved to clean up the area and bring regeneration.

"I know I speak on behalf of everyone in the Melville Hill area when I say how upset people have been by the way this poor man has met his untimely and unexplained death in our community.

"However, we can not lose sight of the fact the place we live in is much safer, cleaner and better than it was when the Residents of the Hill was formed in 2007.

"The council and police have supported us by introducing CCTV surveillance and additional refuse facilities, so the future is looking much brighter.

"Because of all this, we want to make sure unfortunate events like this don't give the people of Torbay and our visitors the wrong impression of our warm and friendly place."