Ananova:

Three men have been arrested after an Asian teenager was battered to death in Dewsbury.

Police are investigating whether there is a link between the boy's death and reports of running battles between two gangs of youths in Crow Nest Park.

A source close to the victim's family said the bank holiday had been marred by violence between the warring gangs.

The man, who lives in Dewsbury and did not wish to be named, said: "There was fighting between a white gang and a non white gang.There is a belief that there may be a link between that and the murder of this young man."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the possibility of a link would be investigated.

He could not say whether there had been any violence reported in the park before the young man's death.

He said: "We are still looking at a possible motive so we cannot link the boy's death to anything else at this moment.But we are looking at what happened in the park during the day and whether there may be a link."

Police launched a murder inquiry after the body of the 17 or 18-year-old boy, who has not been named, was found in a walled garden in Crow Nest Park in the town.

He had been the victim of a "sustained and brutal" attack, police said.

Detective Superintendent Chris Thompson said it was not yet known exactly how the boy died and could not say whether a murder weapon was used.