Neil Doyle murder: Man arrested on suspicion of Liverpool off-duty policeman's murder after handing himself in to police

Merseyside Police said the 28-year-old suspect handed himself in to police

PC Neil Doyle was an officer for 10 years (Merseyside Police)

Detectives investigating the death of off-duty police constable Neil Doyle have arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

Merseyside Police said the 28-year-old suspect handed himself in to police on Friday evening and is currently being interviewed by detectives.

PC Doyle, 36, was allegedly attacked in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of Friday during a Christmas night out with colleagues.

He was due to go on his honeymoon next month.

PC Doyle was with two other off-duty officers when it is believed they were attacked by three men in Colquitt Street at around 3.15am.

Doormen from the nearby Aloha nightclub administered first aid before the paramedics arrived and took him to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, but PC Doyle died as a result of his injuries.

His colleagues were both treated in hospital for facial injuries.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said detectives were investigating the possibility that the officers were recognised from their work.

"It's one line of inquiry that we are looking at but it's by no means the set-in-stone motive," he said.

PC Doyle had married his fiancée Sarah in July, and was due to go on his honeymoon in January.

Police officers at the scene on Colquitt Street, Liverpool (PA)

The couple had been together for 16 years and PC Doyle also leaves behind his mother Theresa and brother Greg.

The officer, who joined the force in May 2004 and was based at Eaton Road police station in West Derby, had previously had won a commendation for his actions in arresting three men after a violent robbery.

Peter Singleton, chairman of Merseyside Police Federation, said the police community was "devastated" by their fellow officer’s death.

"His family, friends and colleagues are absolutely devastated. I spoke to the colleagues who were out with him and they were in absolute bits.

"He exemplified the British bobby. He was a good, well-liked, hard-working bobby who did his best to support the community.

"He really was a good, skilled, dependable cop, who would always do his best for the public.

"It is horrible to lose a colleague at any time but he had only been married five months and it is just coming up to Christmas.

"It is a really tough time for his family and his colleagues."