A MAN has been charged with the manslaughter of his 54-year-old father.

Wayne Michael Heaton, 34, is to appear before Burnley magistrates today following an incident at his father's home.

Police were called to the house in Montgomery Grove following the suspicious death of his father James Heaton, who was discovered at his home at around 3.48am on Sunday13 July by Lancashire Ambulance staff.

A police spokeswoman said: "The man was charged last night following some kind of incident at the address."

A post-mortem examination has been carried out by a Home Office pathologist although an exact cause of death is yet to be established.

Mr Heaton's wife, Sheila, was at home today but did not want to speak.

Neighbours who live in the quiet estate said they were stunned by the death.

A 58-year-old neighbour said: "They have lived here for quite a while and everybody around here knew them on the street. His wife Sheila and the rest of his family will be devastated by this. It's such a tragedy."

A 69-year-old pensioner, who lives close to the Heaton family, added: "It was such a shock to hear of what happened.

"We don't know exactly what's happened so we shouldn't speculate too much but they seem to be a quite close family so I can't understand what's happened.

"They are all really nice people and James will be missed by a lot of people."