THE partner of a man killed on a night out in Bristol has told how his death has left her "broken".

Natasha Matthews fought back tears as she pleaded for anyone with information about the apparently random attack on 28-year-old glazier Simon Bampton to get in touch with the police.

Officers, who were last night holding a 22-year-old man on suspicion of murder, said they urgently needed to contact a caller who provided vital information about the incident via the confidential Crimestoppers hotline.

A post-mortem examination has revealed that a single punch caused the fatal injury to Mr Bampton, who was attacked in the early hours of Tuesday as he walked along Marsh Street, near Baldwin Street in the city centre.

His attacker got out of a car, which sped off after the incident.

Ms Matthews, 25, was joined by family members yesterday afternoon as she laid flowers at the spot where Mr Bampton was attacked.

Before the visit she told a police press conference: "I feel like a part of me has gone with him."

The couple, who knew each other since school, had been together for six years and shared a rented flat in Southampton. They had been planning to buy a house together.

Ms Matthews said: "I feel absolutely distraught by what has happened. I feel broken. It's not real yet. I keep going through his stuff at home. I can't unpack his work bag. I had the happiest six years of my life with him. There wasn't a day that went by when we didn't tell each other that we loved each other."

Mr Bampton began working in Bristol as a glazier last week, travelling home to Southampton each night. His company decided to pay for him and his colleagues to stay in the city this week. It was as he walked back to a city centre hotel after a night out with colleagues that Mr Bampton was attacked.

His girlfriend last spoke to him at about 6pm on Monday evening and rushed to Bristol on hearing that he had been seriously injured at about 2.20am on Tuesday.

She was joined by Simon's family, his father Stan and sister Amanda. They were all at his bedside in the Bristol Royal Infirmary when Mr Bampton died at about midday on Tuesday. His death was the second tragedy in a year for the family, following the death of Mr Bampton's mother, Jill, from a lung condition.

Detectives have been studying CCTV footage in a bid to piece together what happened.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Courtiour, the senior investigating officer, said: "A post mortem took place and the cause of death was a significant blow to the head, causing a rotation of his head which ruptured an artery at the back of his neck which connects to the brain. The Home Office pathologist believes that this blow to the head was the most likely cause of his death, not the fall to the road that followed. We've a team of detectives working hard on reviewing CCTV footagefrom private systems in and around the area and from the city council."

Calling for witnesses, he added: "I'd like to make a further appeal for help and for anyone who was in the Marsh Street area of Bristol at about 2.20am on Tuesday to get in touch. I'd like to appeal to the caller who called the Crimestoppers number on Thursday who provided us with some very relevant and helpful information. That person knows who they are. I'd particularly like to speak to that individual again and would ask them to re-contact either the Crimestoppers number or the incident room."

Witnesses can call Bristol CID on 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

● A 22-year-old man from St Werburgh's, arrested on suspicion of murder, remained in custody last night.