A man has appeared in court this morning charged with the murder of a 17-year-old in East Lancashire.

Sean Fell, 24, of George Street, Haslingden, was remanded in custody at Burnley Magistrates Court.

He is due to make a further appearance on Wednesday at Preston Crown Court.

Former Haslingden High student Declan Eastwood was stabbed to death at a terrace house in the town.

The teenager died after an incident in Princess Street, on Haslingden’s Greenfield estate, early on Saturday morning.

Yesterday the teenager’s family, who live on the nearby Hillside Road estate, were too upset to comment, as police continued a murder investigation.

Police said Declan was found with a number of stab injuries, around 5.45am, and was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Forensic experts visited the Princess Street house on Saturday afternoon and officers have been posted outside since early on Saturday.

The investigation initially focused on the hallway and front path of the property.

Next-door neighbour Tim Lin said: “My wife and I were just getting up and getting ready to go to work.

“We could hear them on the telephone, asking for the police and an ambulance.”

Fellow neighbour Gary Lowe added: “It was in the early hours and the noise woke me up.

“Now I just wish I had got up and said something.”

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday.

The cause of death was given as multiple stab wounds.

Detective Superintendent Neil Esseen said: “We are in the early stages of this investigation, but I have a team of detectives working to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident.

“I would appeal to anybody who believes they have any information, which could assist with this inquiry, to come forward.”

People can contact police on 08451 25 35 45, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Comments unavailable on this story for legal reasons.