DETECTIVES questioning two men over the murder of caretaker Bryan "Joe" Platt were expected to make a decision on whether to charge them today.

JPs last night granted an order giving police extra time to question one of two Stacksteads men arrested and being held during inquiries at Burnley Police Station.

It will allow detectives to continue interviewing the man until 7.30pm tonight.

They were expected to apply for a similar order for the second man today unless the suspects are charged.

One of the men was arrested early yesterday and the second was detained in the afternoon.

Both men were held overnight at the station and questioning continued today.

Meanwhile, officers are continuing inquiries at Nunnhills Mill, Stacksteads, where 74-year-old Mr Platt, of Sycamore Close, Burnley, was battered and robbed on Saturday. He worked as a caretaker at the mill and his body was discovered by his boss David Beattie.

The former Padiham publican's Proton car was discovered two miles away outside another footwear factory in Rawtenstall.

Police revealed yesterday that Mr Platt's wallet, containing £100, had been taken, adding that the frenzied murder was almost certainly a theft which had gone wrong.

Officers have carried out finger-tip searches at the murder scene and around the factory since the weekend.