A MAN being questioned in connection with the death of York busker Tony Grayson was this afternoon released without charge.

The 22-year-old local man was arrested late on Thursday night after he surrendered himself into custody at York police station.

"Inquiries into Mr Grayson's death continue," said North Yorkshire Police spokesman Tony Lidgate.

A murder-style inquiry was launched into his death after a post-mortem examination showed he had suffered internal injuries, thought to have been caused by kicking.

Mr Grayson, a member of York's drug user community, was a harmonica player who was a familiar sight in York's Exhibition Square, Scarborough Bridge and St George's Field areas.

His heartbroken mother, Ethel Dobbs, who lives near York, spoke in the summer of a "wonderful and caring" son, and made an emotional appeal for information to help police with their investigations.

She said she was well aware of her son's lifestyle.

"However, he was a wonderful and caring son - I wouldn't have changed him for anybody else.

"I can't imagine who would have wanted to hurt him, as he was never violent.

"Antony's death was totally unjustified." Mrs Dobbs today declined to comment on the latest dramatic developments in the inquiry.

Detectives originally thought that Mr Grayson had suffered internal injuries as a result of an assault in Colchester, Essex. But the Essex inquiry was scaled down at the end of June following extensive inquiries by North Yorkshire police and Essex Police, with detectives becoming convinced that the assault that led to his death had taken place in York.

Detective Chief Inspector Javad Ali, who was heading the inquiry, said the response police were getting to an appeal for help showed that the people of York wanted the matter properly resolved. "They want to help and they want us to succeed," he said.

A court heard last month how detectives were sent on a wild-goose chase to Essex because of lies by a friend of Mr Grayson.

Desmond Giblin told police he and Mr Grayson had been set upon by three men in Colchester but inquiries later revealed Mr Grayson had not left York. Giblin, 37, was jailed for 18 months for perverting the course of justice.

Updated: 15:32 Friday, October 11, 2002