A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was discovered following a house fire in Colne.

A police officer driving along Burnley Road saw a house on fire and an injured man outside at around 12.05am on Tuesday.

The fire service attended and another man inside the property was found dead.

He has yet to be formally identified and officers are trying to trace his next of kin.

The man who was found outside the house was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. He remains in a stable condition.

A third man was traced and arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

He has since been further arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.

Lancashire Telegraph:

READ > Woman dies in M65 bridge incident 

DCI Zoe Russo, from Lancashire’s force major investigation team, said: “We are still in the early stages of our investigation in liaison with our colleagues at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

“Despite making an arrest, we need to speak to anyone who may have information about what happened.

“If you know or saw anything that you think could help, please contact us as soon as possible.”

You can call police on 101, quoting incident reference 0007 of July 30.

Three crews from Colne and Nelson were called to the incident, just after midnight.

A fire service spokesman said: “Our crews were there for most of the night as an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.

“One person was treated by firefighters by the pavement but another person was found dead at the scene.”

Firefighters used two hose reels, six breathing apparatus and one ventilation fan to extinguish the fire.

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called to Burnley Road at 12.23am and we took someone to hospital.”

Neighbour Joan Simpson, said: “I saw a fire engine this morning, but I had no idea what happened. I went out this morning to Asda and that’s when I saw fire crews.

"It’s awful what’s happened. I just thought it was a kitchen fire.

"I feel sorry for the family of the man who died.”

Agata Roberts, who lives nearby, said: “It’s a shock because this is such a peaceful place to live.

“Nothing like this has ever happened before. We didn’t know how bad it was but it’s very sad.”

A 58-year-old man, who did not wish to be named, said: “I was sitting watching the television when I heard the noise outside. 

“I looked outside and it was bedlam with police cars racing down. 

“We thought it was just an accident at the roundabout. 

“It is mind blowing that someone has died and you don’t think that anything like this would happen. 

“If there was any foul play then that is worse.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mrs Agata Roberts who lives nearby, said: “It’s a shock because this is such a peaceful place to live.

“Nothing like this has ever happened before.

“I only found out because I could smell the fire and asked my husband what it was.

“He went outside and saw fire fighters and police trying to get people away from the house.

“We thought it was something to do with electricity.

“We didn’t know how bad it was but it’s very sad.”