MURDER squad detectives have launched a major investigation after a man was found dead in his bedroom.

Police said the man, thought to be in his 40s, appeared to have suffered 'some form of violence' before he died.

He was found at a ground floor flat in Redearth Road, Darwen at 1.20pm today by his flatmate.

Emergency services were called but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Forensic specialists were called to the gable-end, terrace house and the area was cordoned off. Special metal floor plates, which allow officers to walk across carpets without disturbing any evidence, were used.

One policeman in a high visibility jacket guarded the green front door of the pebble dashed building, which is split into three upstairs flats and two downstairs flats.

The crime scene is less than 300 metres away from the Sainsbury's store and is on one of the town's busiest roads.

Det Insp Andy Hulme, Blackburn police, said: "At about 1.20pm police took a call from a male who was the flatmate of the deceased, stating that he had found his flatmate in his room unconscious. He then called paramedics, who arrived and pronounced the man dead at scene.

"We are treating the death as suspicious but it is too early to say what the man's injuries are and it is too early to say if this is being treated as murder.

"We have not confirmed the identification of the deceased yet.

"A full forensic examination of house is being carried out."

Landlord of the Black horse pub, which is opposite the crime scene, Julian Fallon said: "I called the police out for something else and when they turned up at 1.20pm I said 'you are 20 minutes late'. I didn't realise they had come because someone had died."

One drinker, who asked not to be named, added: "I think it's terrible if anybody dies. I think it's awful this has happened."