COUNSELLING is being offered to pupils after a man was found hanged in a cemetery next to a school this morning.

Luke Young, 35, was discovered at Dill Hall Lane Cemetery near St. Christopher's High School at around 7am on Thursday.

But it was not until around 10am that the body was moved, as police were treating the area as a potential crime scene.

In the meantime, staff put a cordon in place in a bid to keep pupils at the Queen's Road West, Accrington, school away from the scene.

Headteacher Alasdair Coates said: “We acted swiftly to ensure there was no possibility of pupils seeing scene either from classrooms or outdoor areas.

"Despite our efforts many pupils will inevitably have seen the incident either from school buses or as they approached on foot.

“Our own counselling service and the county council’s critical incident unit has been made available to ensure that any pupils distressed receive the support they need.”

Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Young man was found just metres away from his father’s grave.

He was hanging from a tree near a wall between the cemetery and the school.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands it was the anniversary of his father's death.

Detective Inspector Claire Holbrook said: "It would appear this tragedy has taken place a very short distance from his father's grave in the cemetery.

"It is a tragic loss of a young man's life."

Mr Young's body was found by a man walking his dog.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I didn’t even see him at first but the dog saw what was going on.

"I called the police and they arrived within a couple of minutes, but it was clear he had been dead for some time.”