Rochdale Partygoer Stabbed in Back

A man who died after he was attacked at a Christmas Day party in Rochdale was stabbed in the back.

31-year-old John Lee Barrett, from Harpurhey in Manchester, was knifed during a private function at Sinclair's Bar, a nightclub.

It is believed he had been hit over the head with a glass or bottle immediately before the stabbing, police said.

Greater Manchester Police were called to the venue, on Drake Street, at about 2.40am on Sunday following reports of a large disturbance.

The club's security staff had already thrown out a number of people who were inside and police officers closed the premises.

Mr Barrett was found with stab wounds and taken to hospital where he died on Tuesday.

A post mortem examination concluded he died from a stab wound to the back.