THE body of a man who was found battered to death in a flat was covered from head to foot in bruises, police revealed today.

Gary Fletcher, 40, of Hammerton Green, Bacup, is believed to have been lying dead for two days at an address three doors from his own home before a drunk man walked into the local police station and said he could take officers to a body.

Today detectives were continuing to quiz three men about the murder as they revealed that Mr Fletcher, who is believed to have been divorced, had died of multiple injuries.

Officers who broke into the flat on Tuesday night found evidence that it had been used for heavy drinking.

A post mortem examination carried out late yesterday revealed that the dead man had been kicked and stamped on. Officers are not searching for a murder weapon.

Police say no charges have yet been made in connection with the incident, but expect to make a further statement later today.

Today neighbours said they were shocked by news of Mr Fletcher's death.

Newsagent Carmel Coaker of nearby Bacup News in St James' Street said she had delivered papers to Mr Fletcher's flat for the past five months.

"I cannot believe this has happened to him -- he was a lovely man who had a kind word for everyone.

"In the shop he would open the door for elderly people and was always very polite -- a lovely man, the kind of real gentleman you don't often see these days."

She added: "At midnight on Tuesday I was working in the shop and heard an alarm going off.

"I couldn't tell just where it was coming from so I called the police. They said they were very busy with a incident in Bacup -- I now realise that it must have been about Mr Fletcher.

"It is a terrible tragedy."

It is believed Mr Fletcher had been married but was now divorced.

His family is understood to live locally and he has a brother in Plantation View, Bacup.

PIC: The flat in Bacup were the battered body of Gary Fletcher was found.