DETECTIVES investigating the brutal murder of pensioner Bryan Platt today revealed he was robbed of cash and a credit card during the frenzied attack.

A wallet containing at least £100 in £20 notes, a credit card and other personal items was taken from Mr Platt, also known as Joe, who was battered to death at Nunnhills Mill, Stacksteads, where he worked as a caretaker. Detective Chief Inspector Mike Turner, in charge of the hunt, said theft was almost certainly the motive which led to the death of the 74-year-old ex-publican, of Sycamore Close, Burnley.

"We've established Mr Platt was robbed," said Mr Turner. "We know Mr Platt had the cash on him and it's obviously been stolen.

"It now looks almost certain this was a theft gone wrong. Whether whoever did this was there to steal from the mill or from Mr Platt we don't know. We are still trying to establish whether items were taken from the premises.

"It's terrible to think this happy family man was killed for the sake of money. It has only made us even more determined to bring his killer or killers to justice for this senseless and brutal murder."

Mr Platt, who died of severe head injuries from blows from a blunt instrument, was discovered by his boss David Beattie at around 4pm on Saturday.

He was a full-time caretaker at the mill and it was not unusual for him to be there on a Saturday.

He left home between 9am and 10am on Saturday to go to work.

Bosses at Calder Marketing, which employed Mr Platt, were interviewed as police investigated whether cash or valuables were kept at the shoe components company.

Police cordoned off Blackwood Road, outside the works, as officers carried out a day-long finger tip search of the surrounding area.

Mr Platt's Proton car, which was discovered burnt out two miles away, behind Jacobson Footwear factory, in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, around the same time his body was found, is also being examined by forensic experts.

Mr Turner praised the amount of help local people have given the 100-strong investigating team of detectives and specialist officers.

"We have had excellent help from the public and all I can say is 'please keep it up'," he said. "The information has been quality rather than quantity."

Inquiries are centred on the Rossendale area.

Mr Turner said police had not identified the murder weapon.

"There are a number of items in the mill that could possibly have been used and we are investigating those," he said. "It may be the offender took the weapon away with them."

The mill is used as a collection point for raw material used to make footwear before it is distributed to firms in the area.

"With the victim so elderly it was a totally unnecessary attack," said DCI Turner. "All the officers involved in the investigation have been horrified by the nature and extent of the injuries inflicted on Mr Platt."

Friends in Burnley expressed shock at the killing of a man they said would harm no-one.

Bob Robinson, licensee of the Junction Hotel in Rosegrove where Mr Platt was a regular, said no-one could believe what had happened.

"He was a worker who worked for his home and his family," said Mr Robinson. "He was harmless - he would not hurt a fly."

Mr Platt who had previously worked in the pub trade in Manchester was licensee of the New Black Bull in Padiham about 20 years ago.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Burnley police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.