THE family of Steven McMyler have paid tribute to him.

Steven, aged 34, was fatally kicked in the head while being attacked in the gardens of Wigan Parish Church shortly before 7.50pm on Thursday, August 6.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services, he sadly passed away at the scene and a murder investigation was launched.

Paying tribute to him, Steven’s family said: “Steven was an extremely likeable lad, and everyone who came across him loved him as much as we all did. He was a popular lad, and he lit the room up as soon as he walked in.

“Everybody thought the world of him, as he had a heart of gold.

We can’t believe what has happened, and we are struggling to come to terms with this terrible tragedy. As a family, we would appreciate some privacy at this devastating time.”

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Police have issued borough-wide appeals for information over the incident.

Three men – aged 30, 19 and 18 – were arrested on suspicion of murder and an 18-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All four individuals have been released on bail under investigation.

Over the weekend police issued a CCTV appeal of four men (above) who travelled from Merseyside to Wigan that day, who they would like to speak to.

Anyone with any mobile or local CCTV footage of the incident or of other suspicious activity in the area that night can upload media to https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4z0iy2ckk0blkms/AACqaid19ZEML9CrQOdyFLhNa?dl=0.

Footage and images relating to the incident are available for the public to view on the Major Incident Team’s online portal via https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP20L15-PO1.

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4815 quoting incident 2974 of 06/08/2020. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.