A man was murdered in a nightclub in Newquay last night.
Police confirmed a 49-year-old man died following an incident at Sailors nightclub on Fore Street.
Police said the man was local and his next of kin have been informed.
The area surrounding the popular bar and club was closed to the public this morning with police and forensic officers on the scene.
Police and paramedics were called to the club shortly after 3am this morning and said the incident took place inside Sailors.
The man was unconscious and not breathing when police arrived. Staff at the club and police officers tried to resuscitate the man until the ambulance arrived.
This morning police were examining a large pool of blood in the street outside the club.
The 49-year-old man was taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: "Four men have been arrested on suspicion of murder and have been taken to Newquay Police Station."
Anne Marie Phillips from the Upper Crust bakery next to the nightclub spoke of her shock at hearing of the murder.
She said: "There might be a scrap outside the front but nothing like this.
"I'm very shocked - it's absolutely terrible."
Violence in bars and clubs has been a problem in Newquay for a long time. In 2009 the Newquay Safe partnership was launched to bring together police, the local authority and the local community to try and improve the situation.
The Mayor of Newquay, Kevin Towill, said: "I'm shocked and saddened to hear of this news.
"I would like to send my condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
"I'm sure the police will carry out a through investigation into what happened."
Sgt Regie Butler, from Newquay Police, posted on social networking website Twitter: "It is worth reminding people this is very rare in Newquay and the number of assaults fell last year."
