The murder scene has been cordoned off by officers

Brian Noble Dodd, who was 72, was killed on Tuesday afternoon as he walked his two Schitzu dogs.

The day of the murder brought bright sunshine and normal activities - children were taken to school by their parents; other dog owners walked their pets as they do every day.

Pensioners who live near Ffrith beach, which is a quiet part of the town, used the local shops just across the road from the murder scene.

But by Thursday, police cars replaced the ice cream vans usually parading the resort and a mobile incident room stood in front of the small row of stores.

On the car park, a tent erected by the police covered the scene where Mr Dodd was stabbed at least ten times.

Cheryl Roberts: Mr Dodd was a nice man

Locals have spoken of their horror after hearing of the frenzied attack which killed the "quiet pensioner".

Cheryl Roberts regularly saw the retired accountant at the off licence she works in on Victoria Road in the town.

The 32-year-old said she could not believe Mr Dodd was dead.

"He came in here to the shop, he was a lovely, lovely man," she said.

"He kept himself to himself and he had two little dogs, he was a really nice man.

Camera footage

"I just can't believe it's happened in such a quiet seaside town."

The store is opposite the Festival Gardens parkland - where the married man's body was found in a car park by another man walking his dog.

Police are examining footage from closed circuit television cameras on the premises to see if they can spot anyone who was acting suspiciously.

Police divers are also searching the pond inside Festival Gardens in their hunt for the missing murder weapon.

Local postmaster Peter Montgomery said the area was very quiet.

Heather Horton: We moved for a quieter life

"It's generally used by elderly people who walk their dogs and by children who play on their bikes and near the water," he said.

"I let my two children play over there on their own but obviously second thoughts have entered my head and it isn't safe at the moment."

He said the murder had been the topic of conversation in the post office.

"People are shocked and surprised and they don't expect it in an area where there's a density of elderly, retired people," he added.

Prestatyn is much quieter than its neighbouring seaside resort of Rhyl and many people retire to the small town to lead a more peaceful life.

One such family are the Hortons who moved to north Wales from Manchester 14 months ago.

Heather Horton said she could not believe that a man had been murdered so near to her new home.

"We moved here because we thought it was a nice area - it is a nice area - but then you have something like this happen.

"This has happened in the middle of the afternoon, it makes you wonder where are you safe.

"The person is still at large so everywhere you go you're thinking: 'Am I talking to this person who's done it?'"