Two held over death of former soldier who was attacked by burglars

Police investigating the death of a pensioner who was attacked in his own home have arrested two men on suspicion of murder.

Former soldier Tommy Ward, 80, died of his injuries earlier this year after being attacked by burglars at his home in Maltby, near Rotherham, in 2015.

The savage beating of the great-grandfather took place overnight on September 31 into October 1.

The attackers took his life savings of £30,000 and left Mr Ward, who weighed just 9st, seriously injured.

South Yorkshire Police said: "A number of warrants have been executed this morning in the Aston, Ulley and Wales areas of Rotherham and in Hackenthorpe and Stradbroke in Sheffield, in connection to the ongoing investigation into the murder of Tommy Ward.

"Two men have been arrested, aged 35 and 30 years old, on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody being questioned by detectives."

The great-grandfather of 15 died in February in Rotherham Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment since the attack.

On the six-month anniversary of the "vicious attack on a vulnerable man", detectives said they were treating the investigation as a murder inquiry.

Officers said a safety deposit box was taken in the break-in, and a similar one was found in the Kilnhurst area of Rotherham two weeks after the attack.

Members of the public donated more than £30,000 to replace Mr Ward's lost life savings in an online appeal.

Some 2,250 people made donations to the appeal after reading how the old soldier was left for dead with a smashed skull, broken ribs and a fractured jaw.