Organist Alan Greaves murder: Two men arrested by police

Detectives investigating the death of a church organist in Sheffield have arrested two men on suspicion of murder.

Alan Greaves, 68, of High Green, Sheffield, died after sustaining severe head injuries while walking to a church service on Christmas Eve.

He died from his injuries in hospital two days later.

South Yorkshire police said two men, one in his 20s and one in his 40s, had been arrested.

Mr Greaves, a father-of-four, was found on a pavement near his home on Greengate Lane with a head injury at about 23:15 GMT on Monday.

He had been making his way to St Saviour's Church to play the organ at the Midnight Mass service.

Detectives said the motive for the assault was not known.

The Reverend Canon Simon Bessant from St Saviour's worked closely with Mr Greaves and his wife Maureen.

He described the murder as a "random" act of "senseless violence".

"This doesn't make any sense. Why can't someone walk down the streets on Christmas Eve. It is not a dangerous area.

"It feels totally senseless and pointless and the level of violence used is really hard to imagine. It looks like he was the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.

Mr Bessant added that the community had been appalled by the incident.

"There has been a huge reaction. I have had people coming to the door in tears. People knew him well. He was a bit of a grandfather figure to many people and he had a lot of respect from many folk," he said.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: "Officers are searching a number of properties in the area and there has been a high-visibility police presence in High Green today."

Police are still appealing for witnesses to come forward with any information.