THOUSANDS of people have lilked a tribute group page to a popular Pontypool man within hours of it being set up, saying his death has shocked the town "to the core".

The incredible outpouring for John Reeder, 63, came as Gwent Police was granted more time to interview four people arrested on suspicion of his murder.

Mr Reeder from Pontnewynydd was found lying face- down on the A4043 near George Street at 6am on Wednesday, sparking a 12-hour police investigation at the scene.

He was taken to Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital with serious head injuries but later died.

Three men aged 18, 19 and 23 and the one woman aged 19, all from the Pontypool area, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of his murder.

Police were yesterday granted an extra 36 hours to question them.

Originally from Yorkshire, Mr Reeder has lived at Tan-y-Coed, Pontnewynydd, for six years.

But, within hours of a group in his memory being set up on social networking site Facebook, 2,896 people had liked it and over 130 messages had been left.

Mr Reeder was a regular face in Wetherspoon's, Pontypool and The Pegasus, Pontnewynydd, while many people also knew him through his love of horses and riding around on his mountain bike.

One poster said: "RIP John, what a sad death to a man who was so gentle", while another commented: "John had a heart of gold."

Two women posted about knowing Mr Reeder through his passion for horses and one man talked of riding his bicycle along the canal with him.

Another woman said: "RIP John, Pontypool has been shocked to the core."

A spokesman from Bron Afon that runs Tan-y-Coed said: "Mr Reeder was a tenant of Bron Afon and staff who knew him were sad to hear this awful news. If we can assist with the police investigation into his death in any way we will."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Solas which runs the Hales House hostel on nearby Osborne Road confirmed two of the people arrested lived there.

Staff are also assisting police.

Call Gwent Police on 101 and quote log number 73 7/8/13 with information.