A MAN found dead at a remote moorland beauty spot suffered a head injury after slipping down an icy slope, police revealed today.

Detectives investigating the death of Brian Thomas Baron, 37, said a combination of the bitter cold and the amount of alcohol he had drunk caused Mr Barron to pass out.

His body was discovered in snow on a track near Earnsdale Reservoir in the Sunnyhurst area of Darwen at 8.30am on Sunday by a woman out walking her dog.

Police are not treating his death as suspicious.

Detective Inspector Mark Gray, of Blackburn CID, said: "We were told two men had been out drinking. We found the other man who confirmed he and Mr Barron had gone to the quiet spot to have a drink. For some reason the two went their separate ways and Mr Barron was left alone.

"Mr Barron had drunk a considerable amount of alcohol. It appears he slipped on a slope and probably passed out with the combination of alcohol and the extreme cold. There was a minor graze to his head which seemed to have been caused by a gravel graze.

"It appears to have been a tragic accident. His mum and dad are very upset. It's not been an easy time for them in the circumstances."

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out today to establish the cause of death.

Police said Mr Barron had lived at several addresses in Darwen. They are still trying to establish where he was living leading up to his death.