A 22-YEAR-OLD man was today charged with murder following the discovery of a body at a Darwen hostel.

David Smith, who had been staying at the Police Street hostel in the town, was due to appear at Blackburn magistrates today after being formally charged by detectives in the early hours.

He was arrested at 3am in Bolton Road yesterday and taken to Greenbank police station, Blackburn, for questioning.

The arrest came after police were called to the hostel yesterday.

Jeffrey Livesey, 56, who was also a resident at the hostel, was pronounced dead by paramedics at 12.45am on Sunday.

He suffered serious head injuries in what police described today as a "sustained and severe beating". Police immediately took control of the hostel and launched their investigation. A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday.

However, police said it was still unclear why Mr Livesey was attacked. Detective Inspector Phil McEntee said: "This attack totally defied logic and we are working to establish what happened.

"The victim sustained a severe beating. Staff and other residents are still being questioned and have been very co-operative.

"They are all very shocked by what has taken place and we are continuing with our inquiries."

Detective Inspector Jim Elston added: "The inquiry is still in the early stages.

"We took control of the scene in Police Street yesterday and investigations are continuing.

"We are continuing with our forensic investigation at the scene and are interviewing fellow residents at the hostel to try and establish what happened leading up to the incident.

"We are now running a full criminal investigation."

The hostel is owned by Twin Valley Homes which took over the council's housing stock in 2001.

The victim was thought to have been staying at the hostel, which is in a non-residential area behind the leisure centre, for the past few weeks.

The hostel is used by around 30 people at any one time who have no other place to live.

The borough council's social service department also house people there while they find alternative, more permanent, accommodation.