A 28-year-old arrested on suspicion of murdering an openly gay man has been released on bail.

Michael Polding, 63, who moved to Brighton nine months ago after almost 40 years in Croydon, was found dead on July 16 at his flat, on St George’s Road.

His body was badly decomposed and police believe he could have been dead for two months before discovery.

A man from London was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday night but was released on bail until August 8.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick May, leading the investigation, said: "Information from friends and acquaintances of Mr Polding who spoke to him in May is very important to us to help us work out when he may have died.

"He lived in Croydon for many years and we would also like to speak to anyone who kept in contact with Mr Polding after he moved to Brighton in October last year."

He said the investigation so far had led police to believe that Mr Polding's death was not linked to any hate crime as a result of his sexuality and that any assault he may have suffered was not as a result of a random attack.

In a statement, Mr Polding's family said he had grown up in Scotland but found his younger years there difficult because of his sexuality.

They said he had worked in the urology department at St George's Hospital, Tooting for 15 years but had moved to Brighton as he wanted to start a new life within the gay community.