A 49-YEAR-OLD man was due to appear in court today accused of murdering a teenager.

John Butterworth, of Water Street, Accrington, was charged following the death of 19-year-old Daniel James Freeston.

Mr Freeston was discovered with a serious head injury outside Butterworth's home at 4.50am on Saturday and was taken to Blackburn Infirmary.

Mr Freeston, formerly of Cedar Street but believed to have been living recently in Oswaldtwistle, died on Saturday afternoon.

The street was cordonned off from its junction with East Gate, on Saturday, while forensic examinations were carried out.

Two police officers guarded the front and back doors into the house throughout Saturday.

Det Insp Ian Critchley said: "We cordoned off Water Street close to the junction with Eastgate in order to examine the street where we believe the man was assaulted. We have also examined inside the house in Water Street.

"We ask anyone who was in the Water Street area at the time of the incident to contact us with any information they may have."

Neighbours in Water Street said they were shocked to hear about the incident.

Stacey Rayner, 32, of Water Street, said: "I heard muffled voices coming from the street at about 4am on Saturday but I didn't hear anything else. When we woke up the street had been cordonned off from top to bottom and we saw the forensic officers.

"We automatically thought someone must have died.

"It's awful when something like this happens a few doors away. It's something you see on TV and don't expect on your doorstep.

"We haven't lived here long but we're already fed up of the problems on this street.

"We've had our car scratched and the man who lives at the house where the police have been has had an upstairs and downstairs window smashed during the past six months.

"We have seen the man who lives there in passing and he seems an okay bloke. He was already living there when we moved in and most of the houses on this block are privately-owned."

Another female neighbour, who did not want to be identified but has lived in the street for ten years, said: "The first I knew about it was when the police knocked at my door about 5.15am. I didn't hear anything outside and usually my dogs start barking if there's any noise.

"We've had windows broken before but nothing this serious. I know a man called John has lived in that house for quite a while and I think there was a younger man living there aswell recently."

Staff at the local Stanley Street Working Men's Club said the incident had been the talk of the club but no-one knew what had happened or who was involved.