THE death of popular father of three Lemy Bullock sent shock- waves through the close-knit Newport community of Pill.

As relatives of the "larger-than-life" family man grieved yesterday, two men were helping police with their inquiries after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Mr Bullock, 36, from Dolphin Court, Pill, suffered multiple stab wounds to the stomach in Harveys pub late on Tuesday night.

Detectives are still hunting for a third man in connection with his death. His devastated partner, Beverley Jones, 40, the landlady of the nearby Alma pub, paid tribute to Mr Bullock, who had two sons aged 14 and five and a ten-year-old daughter.

She said: "I loved Lemy to bits and we thought we were supposed to be together forever.

"He was a nice guy who loved his children.

"Lemy was larger than life and was loved by everybody and he touched a lot of people's lives.

"His death is a terrible, tragic loss and will send shockwaves which will be felt throughout Newport."

Ms Jones said she was at the Alma when she received a phone call just after 11.30pm to say he had been stabbed: "I was at the hospital ten minutes later and they were trying to save his life.

"He was on a ventilator, but then they told me there was nothing they could do.

"Lemy used to have so many plans. We wanted to stay in Newport for another year and then move to Devon to be near his Mam and live by the seaside. Everything was going to be great."

She said Mr Bullock, a former Duffryn High School pupil and plasterer, "was a football fanatic who loved Liverpool".

"He loved socialising and people and was always the centre of attention." His mother, Gwenda, and stepfather, George Bullock, said in a family statement:

"Our son, Lemy, or 'the Lemster', as his family and hundreds of friends affectionately knew him, was always the life and soul of the party. Sometimes a bit too loud, but he just liked everyone to know he was there. "As a young boy he got into a few scrapes but always made friends afterwards.

"Lemy had three beautiful children, whom he adored. They will never stop loving and thinking about him."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Gwent Police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.