DETECTIVES have launched two separate murder investigations after two men were killed within just six hours.

A dad-of-two died following a disturbance at his Lanarkshire home, hours after a teenager was killed at an 18th birthday party.

Police found Scott Byers badly injured when they were called to his home in Blantyre's Jedburgh Street around 5am on Saturday. He was rushed to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride but died a short time later.

Officers carried out door-to-door inquiries and combed the area looking for clues as they launched a hunt for the killer.

Friends have been stunned by the death. Bouquets of flowers have been left at the scene. One message read: "Rest in peace Scobie."

Mr Byers lived alone, but had two young children with his former wife. His parents Margaret and John were being comforted by relatives at their Blantyre home and were too distraught to talk about their loss.

Stewart McKeown, 36, who has known Scott since school, said: "I'm absolutely devastated.

"Scott was a very nice, well liked lad. We really have absolutely no idea what happened."

The murder came just hours after Gary Morton, 17, was killed in a gang fight in Hamilton.

He was injured when he went to his brother Steven's aid as trouble flared outside a birthday party at the Woodhead Bar in Swisscot Avenue.

A 29-year-old man also received serious injuries in the incident, which happened at around 11.45pm.

Both men were taken to Hairmyres Hospital, where the teenager died a short time later. The other man is in a serious condition with a head injury.

Police have appealed for help from the public in both cases.

The officer leading the Hamilton case, Detective Inspector Gordon McConnell, said: "A disturbance broke out in the car park involving around 10 males, including some who were attending the party.

"I would appeal to anyone at the party, or anyone who was in the area at the time, who may have witnessed the disturbance to come forward."

Meanwhile, police are probing a stabbing after a man was found in a Bothwell cemetery late last night.

The 29-year-old man was taken to Hairmyres Hospital after being discovered by a passer-by in the grounds of St Brides churchyard in Main Street around 11pm.

He's in a serious but stable condition with a leg wound.