Police have put up posters and are using Facebook to appeal for information in a murder investigation.

Posters were put up around the Highfields area of Leicester yesterday – hours after an inquest into the death of Nazir Taj Sheikh opened.

The 36-year-old died from a single stab wound to the leg in the St Saviours Road area of Highfields on Monday afternoon.

Posters in Urdu, Gujarati and English are appealing for public help in identifying the people responsible.

Leicestershire police are also using the social network site Facebook in a murder case for the first time as another way of appealing for information.

Detective Superintendent Craig Moore, who is leading the investigation, said: "The attack took place in broad daylight. I am hoping the posters will jog people's memory and someone will remember something about the incident, or the victim's movements.

"For the first time in an inquiry of this nature, we are enlisting the help of Facebook to provide people with an alternative way of getting in touch with us.

"If you have information which could help us, visit the Facebook group murder enquiry – Nazir Taj Sheikh."

Det Supt Moore also spoke at the opening of the inquest yesterday morning.

A critically-injured Mr Sheikh managed to stumble through an alleyway to nearby Grove Road, where he was found collapsed on the pavement, bleeding heavily.

He died at the Leicester Royal Infirmary at about 2.15am on Tuesday, the inquest heard.

Det Supt Moore, head of the major crime investigation team at Leicestershire police, said Mr Sheikh, who lived just a few streets away from where he was fatally injured, suffered a "serious injury" to his thigh.

He said: "Found at the scene on Grove Road was a knife."

It has not yet been confirmed whether this was the weapon used to stab Mr Sheikh.

Following Det Supt Moore's evidence, Mr Sheikh's family said they did not want to add any further information.

Leicestershire South coroner Catherine Mason adjourned the inquest to a later date, while the investigation takes place.

She said: "It is quite clear that further inquiries need to be carried out."

Earlier this week, Mr Sheikh's cousin, Mohamed Khan, spoke to the Leicester Mercury to say he would be "deeply missed".

Mr Khan said: "He was a fantastic bloke. He didn't have any children of his own, but he had lots of nieces and nephews and he loved them like they were his own.

"He was just a great person and he'll be deeply missed."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Operation Remedy incident room on 0116 222 2222, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.