A MURDER investigation has been launched after a man died in a suspected stabbing.

The 60-year-old, named locally as Keith Passmore, was found dead in a flat in Burnley after a nearby resident raised the alarm with police.

Forensic investigators cordoned off the area in Clifton Road yesterday as they looked for clues.

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The road was also blocked for several hours by police on Saturday, who were called shortly after 6.30pm.

Officers said the man was pronounced dead in the property and a post mortem was due to take place yesterday afternoon.

Two men, aged 44 and 47, who are both from the town, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. and were yesterday being questioned.

Det Supt Paul Withers said: “We have two people in custody at this time and I’m not looking for anybody else in connection with this incident.

“We are looking through CCTV images and also conducting door-to-door inquires with residents to build up a clear picture of the night’s events.”

The road was reopened yesterday morning to traffic with the house still sealed off and guarded by police officers.

Coun Charles Briggs, who represents the Gannow area on Burnley Council, said: “I had dealings with Mr Passmore a few months ago and I helped him sort out a bin for his property.

“He liked to keep himself to himself really and he seemed all right to me.

“My heart goes out to his family and I feel very sorry for them.”

Bhag Singh, manager of the Best One convenience store in nearby Padiham Road, said: “This has scared the whole community.

“It’s a very shocking thing to have happened and it has come out of the blue.

“People have been coming into the shop all morning talking about it and asking questions.

“People are worrying about their safety and about how safe their children are as well.

“This sort of thing does not happen around here.

“I hope that this never happens again because it’s an awful thing.”

Wendy Kernachan, of Padiham Road, said: “The police are going from door to door asking everyone in the area if they saw or heard anything.

“I can’t believe what has happened and it’s very shocking to everyone.

“When the news came out on Saturday night and I saw that the road had been blocked off I could not believe it at all.

“I think people are staying inside today more than they usually would.

“There were loads of police in Clifton Road on Saturday night and it looked very serious.”

Steven Colne, 21, who lives with his wife Victoria in Ightenhill Park Lane, said: “I saw all of the police cars and I wondered what was going on.

“We have only been here a few months but I have never seen a police operation like this before in this area.

“You don’t expect to come home to so many police cars near your road and it’s quite a sad thing to have happened.”

A resident who lives in Lark Street said: “We have a friend over from Argentina and we assured her that this was not a normal thing to happen.

“When I came home last night all the police cars with their flashing lights were near the house and I wondered what was going on.

“This is a very quiet area and nothing like this has happened here since me and my husband moved in.”

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said: “Detectives have launched a murder inquiry following the death of a man in Burnley.

“Shortly after 6.30pm on Saturday police were called to an address in Clifton Road where they found the body of a 60-year-old man. Sadly he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Two men from Burnley, aged 44 and 47, have both been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody.”