A 39-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man who was found dead in his home.

David Michael Kershaw of Birch Hall Avenue, Darwen, was arrested late on Saturday night and charged with murdering Joseph Conroy early this morning.

He appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court today charged with the murder of Mr Conroy on Thursday, April 17 and for an unrelated assault on Samuel Read causing actual bodily harm two days later.

Paul Schofield, defending, did not apply for bail and Kershaw was sent in custody to Preston Crown Court.

Mr Conroy, 51 was found dead in his flat in Redearth Road on Friday afternoon by a flatmate.

Police said that a post mortem examination confirmed that Mr Conroy died of head injuries after a vicious and sustained assault.

As part of the investigation, police sealed off a building on Birch Hall Avenue earlier this week.

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

Police confirmed that the house had been declared a crime scene, and said it was connected to the murder investigation.

A statement released by Mr Conroy's family on Monday said: "Joseph's tragic death has left us deeply shocked.

"It is true that he liked a drink but he was a very kind man who would have done anything for anybody and he wouldn't hurt a fly."