POLICE and fire chiefs are investigating the mystery death of a man whose badly burned body was found at a Blackburn house early today.

The alarm was raised after a neighbour smelled smoke coming from the house in Queen's Park Road shortly before 5am.

Firefighters discovered the body of an Asian man in his 20s in a ground floor room of the terraced house and alerted the police.

Neighbours said two men lived in the house, Ismail Mulla and his father, who is away on holiday.

The house was not badly damaged in the blaze and the dead man was the only person in the property at the time.

Neighbour Sullam Mulla said: "I woke up about 4.30am and could smell fire. When I looked out of the window I could see smoke coming from a downstairs window.

"A young man lives in the house with his father, who is away on holiday. He is a quiet lad who seems a very nice person."

Divisional officer Barry Bennett from Lancashire Fire Brigade said: "There is a fire investigation in process and we are using a sniffer dog to try and find out if accelerants were used to start the fire.

"There was extensive smoke damage to the house but no extensive fire damage to the rest of the the property. The fire was confined to one room.

"The body of a young man believed to be in his 20s was found in a rear ground floor room. We believe his family may be on holiday in India."

Blackburn CID are also investigating the fire and scenes of crime officers were at the house early today.

Detective Inspector Tim Jacques said: "The fire brigade notified us that the body of a young man with extensive burns was found at a house in Blackburn. As a result we are investigating the death."

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out today and relatives of the dead man were being informed.

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