Police were continuing their investigations today after a businessman cleared of a string of sex crimes two years ago was stabbed to death near his office.

Michael Willard, 63, died in hospital after he was knifed in the yard of his scaffolding firm in Caves Road, St Leonards.

Detectives were yesterday granted a further 36 hours to question two men arrested on suspicion of murder.

Mortally wounded Mr Willard staggered into his office at Target Scaffolding and Plant Hire after he was stabbed at 4.40pm on Friday. He dialled 999 himself.

Paramedics tended the married father, of Harley Shute Road, St Leonards, but he died within an hour at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

Murder squad officers have launched a major inquiry and are delving into Mr Willard's past for clues that may lead them to his killer.

Detectives are not linking his death to his trial in August 2001, when Mr Willard was found not guilty of eight counts of indecent assault at Lewes Crown Court.

He was alleged to have indecently assaulted a youngster on numerous occasions in the late Seventies and early Eighties but was cleared during a four-day trial.

A post-mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist revealed Mr Willard died from a single stab wound.

Thirty detectives have been assigned to Operation Granary, led by Detective Chief Inspector Andy Buchan.

Mr Buchan said Mr Willard's large family was "absolutely distraught" by his murder, which he said appeared motiveless.

He appealed for residents to check their gardens, rubbish bins and other areas for the murder weapon.

Mr Buchan said: "According to his workers, Mr Willard was a straight-laced family man. As far as his background is concerned, there's nothing staring us in the face."

House to house inquiries were carried out and CCTV footage examined while police stayed with Mr Willard's devastated family at their large home near the Wishing Tree roundabout.

Mr Willard had a set routine to his day, finishing work at tea-time before making the two-mile journey back home.

Mr Buchan said: "Mr Willard was a very private man who ran his business for many years. "Understandably his family is distraught and our sympathy is with them at this time."

The two arrested men were being quizzed at Hastings police station today after magistrates granted officers an extended time in which to question them. It runs out early on Tuesday Mr Buchan urged anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Caves Road or Gloucester Gardens area between 4pm and 5pm on Friday to come forward.

He said: "The person or persons responsible may well have had blood-stained clothing."