POLICE have launched a murder-style inquiry after horrified residents watched a badly-beaten man collapse and die in the street.

The 48-year-old local man was involved in a fight at the Commercial Hotel in Blackburn Road, Church, at around 7pm yesterday and suffered massive head injuries.

Police who were called to deal with a report of a disturbance 100 yards away outside a house in Walmsley Close at 8.13pm found the man lying on the pavement.

People living nearby said the dead man was Harold Johnson, a roofer, formerly of Blackburn Road, Church, who is believed to have been living in a hostel in Accrington.

Police say the man went to the house in Walmsley Close, where he tried to attract the attention of the occupants. Police are investigating the possibility that he was involved in a second struggle.

Paramedics tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate the man when they arrived at just after 8.15pm. Police were today waiting until relatives had been informed before confirming his name.

Mr Johnson, who worked as a roofer and odd-jobber, had been living with his son, Jamie, in a flat in Blackburn Road.

Jamie, who is in his 20s, declined to talk about the incident today. Mr Johnson's former girlfriend Bernadette Mullen lives in Walmsley Close, according to neighbours.

Sheila Wooding, landlady of the Queens Hotel, in Edward Street, said: "I don't know Mr Johnson because I have only been here three months. But Bernadette Mullen drinks here regularly and still lives in Walmsley Close as far as I know."

A young woman who lives in a house near the scene said: "I heard a couple of blokes arguing and then when I looked outside he was lying on the pavement."

The man's body was left on the pavement and wrapped in plastic sheeting until forensic officers arrived. The place where the body was found was covered with a tent today.

Police cordoned off the scene of the crime. The Commercial Hotel was also closed and police officers patrolled outside. The body was found close to an alleyway which leads to the pub.

Acting Detective Superintendent Paul Buschini, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are not saying it is a murder at this stage. The man was assaulted earlier in the evening at the Commercial Hotel, which is just round the corner. If anyone saw the fight inside the pub or was in the area of Walmsley Close between 7pm and 8.30pm last night we want to speak to them."

A neighbour, who did not want to give his name, said: "I used to work with Harold. I've known him for about twenty years, he was Church born and bred.

"He moved away from Church for a while and the last I knew he was living in a hostel in Accrington after he broke up with his girlfriend.

"He was well known in a lot of pubs in Church and Accrington and he used to be a bit of a hard man. I think the police knew him quite well. Although he was a mate of mine for a long time, he wasn't well liked in the area for a lot of reasons."

Anyone with information should call the incident room at Accrington Police Station on 01254 382141 or call in confidence on the Crimestoppers number 0800 555111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.