A MURDER-style inquiry has been launched after the death of a man who was found lying in the street with serious head injuries.

Martin Bibby, 47, of Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen, was found slumped unconscious in Cardwell Place, Blackburn, after a night out in the town centre.

A passing motorist alerted police after spotting Mr Bibby lying on a mound of grass outside the job centre, at the junction with King Street, at 1.20am on Sunday.

One of the officers gave Mr Bibby mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for 15 minutes until the arrival of an on-call doctor.

Mr Bibby was taken to Blackburn Infirmary and admitted to the intensive care unit, but died later on Sunday morning.

A man was arrested yesterday in connection with the incident and was today being questioned by detectives at Greenbank police station, Whitebirk.

Police have appealed for witnesses, especially the motorist, who drove off before the officers could take his details. He was in a Peugeot saloon car.

The post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday and revealed the cause of death to be head injuries.

An incident room has been set up at Greenbank and the investigation is being led by Detective Superintendent Michael Gradwell.

Yesterday, officers conducted inquiries in the area, including questioning people in surrounding pubs.

Police completed a forensic science examination of the scene yesterday.

A police spokesman confirmed the death was being treated as suspicious and added: "A 47-year-old man was found in a collapsed state with serious head injuries in Cardwell Place, near the job centre.

"It appeared he has been seriously assaulted. We would like to appeal for any witnesses, particularly the driver of the Peugeot saloon, to come forward.

"The post mortem examination concluded that he died as a result of head injuries.

"As a consequence an incident room has been set up while an investigation which will be headed by Detective Superintendent Michael Gradwell is conducted into the circumstances of Mr Bibby's death."

Witnesses should call Blackburn police on 01254 51212.

Neighbours in Stopes Brow today said they had heard nothing about his death but said it was a horrible thing to have happened.

The said they believed he had only lived at the house in Stopes Brow for around 12 months and had recently moved into another house nearby, while redecorating was taking place at the home.

A local shopkeeper said: "We didn't know the man who died but people have been in the shop talking about it."