A FRIEND of a man found murdered in his flat has spoken of her shock - and said: "He would never offend anyone."

Joseph Conroy was found dead with serious head injuries in the ground-floor flat on Redearth Road, Darwen, on Friday.

Police say the 51-year-old, who was well known in the town, died after a "vicious and sustained assault" and may have known his attacker.

Liz Golding grew up near Mr Conroy in Silverdale Close, Blackburn.

The two lost touch when Ms Golding, 52, moved away from the area - but a year ago they were reunited when she moved into Redearth Road, near Mr Conroy's flat.

She said: "We grew up together - we would play out on the street with our brothers and sisters. But then we had lost touch until I moved in and one day I saw him out on the street.

"He was a good-natured bloke. I wouldn't have thought he had a vicious bone in his body.

"When I moved in he would always offer to help me with painting and decorating.

"I can't think who he could have offended - he never seemed to upset anybody."

As part of the investigation, police sealed off a building on Birchall Avenue in Darwen.

Eyewitnesses said forensic teams carried out searches of the ground-floor flat throughout yesterday.

Police confirmed the house had been declared a crime scene, and said it was connected to the murder investigation, but would not give more details.

Danny Jones, of St Albans Road, watched the investigation unfold.

The 66-year-old said: "They first appeared about 10am in a small van, then a bigger arrived and a policeman stood on sentry duty outside the house for the rest of the day.

"They went in and out and the forensic teams took about five bags out."

George Tracey, 59, who lives a few doors away from the flat in Redearth Road where Mr Conroy's body was found by a flatmate, said: "We always nodded when we passed each other.

"He kept himself to himself. It's a shock to everyone, and lots of people have been asking what's happened.

"It's not what you expect around here."

Mr Conroy was well-known in the Black Horse pub opposite his flat.

Pub regular Mick Slater, 54, of Darwen, had known Mr Conroy since he welded his car for him five years ago.

The Redearth Road resident said: "He was a nice bloke, and wouldn't do any harm to anyone. He was a likeable rogue, put it that way.

"He has helped me out in the past and I helped him."

Mr Conroy had been in the building trade but had not worked in recent years, he added.

Landlord Andy Harding said: "It wasn't unusual for him to have people knocking on his door, but they wouldn't cause a nuisance and nothing would spill on to the street outside."

Flowers left on the window sill of the flat pay tribute to Mr Convoy.

One said: "You were my brother", and another from next-door neighbour Billie Pinnington read "goodnight, God bless".

The 23-year-old mother of three said: "I just wanted to pay my respects.

"He was a nice guy, we used to lend him things for his flat."

The manager of the nearby Free Off Licence, who didn't want to be named, said Mr Conroy had come into the shop on Thursday.

He added: "He was a nice man, and always seemed happy when he came in."

Detective Superintendent Kevin O'Toole, who is leading the inquiry, said, "A post mortem examination has confirmed that Mr Conroy has died of head injuries after a vicious and sustained assault.

"At this stage we believe the victim, who is well known in the Darwen area, may have known his attacker.

"I would urge anyone that visited Mr Conroy during the evening of Thursday April 17 to get in touch as a matter of urgency."

Det Supt O' Toole, of Lancashire Police's Major Investigation Team said "a number of lines of inquiry" were being followed and urged anyone with information to contact Blackburn Police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.