A MURDER hunt was launched after a "quiet family man" died in hospital, nearly seven weeks after he was brutally stabbed.

John Ryan, 53, remained in hospital on life support for 47 days after he was knifed in a frenzied attack near his home, on Thursday, December 4, in Walthamstow.

He died on Tuesday, January 20 and police remain in the dark over the motive, and say they are keeping "an open mind".

Officers leading the hunt for the knifeman, described as a white man in his mid-20s with a blond ponytail, are making an urgent appeal for the public to come forward with information.

Mr Ryan, who worked for a road construction firm, had just locked up his van in Guildford Road when a man started talking to him and an argument began around 7.40pm.

Mr Ryan was stabbed by the man who police believe fled through the subway under the A406 at the end of Guildford Road towards Beech Hall Road, Highams Park.

Mr Ryan was found staggering in the street by his family. He was taken to Whipps Cross University Hospital where he remained on its critical list for weeks.

Det Insp Shaun Keep, who is leading the hunt for the murderer, said: "We want to talk to anyone who was in the Guildford Road or Beech Hall Road area on December 4, who saw anything suspicious.

"They may have seen something that they didn't realise was connected to this incident at the time and we ask them to come forward."

A post mortem was held on Tuesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 8284 8561, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.