THE METROPOLITAN police say that the murder of a Darwen man will be subject to a periodic review.

Playwright, actor and gay rights activist Drew Griffiths, 37, who lived in Darwen, was stabbed to death during a homophobic attack in London in 1984.

Friend, Darwen based artist Glynn Kelly, has been lobbying police over the years to try to get them to re-open the case.

However, he recently received the news that the police would no longer be actively investigating his death.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “The unsolved murder of Drew Griffiths, in June 1984, has been reviewed by the Met’s Special Case Work Investigation Team.

“This case remains open and will continue to be subject to periodic review, with the aim of identifying and arresting the person or people responsible for Drew’s murder.”

Mr Kelly said:”It’s a disappointing response. I’m willing to carry on pushing with it, but the problem is I have been doing it all on my own.

“Drew doesn’t have any family so I feel like if I don’t keep going with it, eventually he will be forgotten.”

The Met continues to appeal to anyone who may information about Drew’s murder, who was found dead in a flat in Balham, at about 18.30 on June 16, 1984, to get in contact with the Homicide and Major Crime Command by dialling 101.