A 23-year-old man has today been charged with murder after the body of an 89-year-old war veteran was found in a house in Blackburn on Friday.

Stuart Young, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates this afternoon over the death of Albert Fielding.

He is due to appear before Preston Crown Court on Thursday.

Meanwhile a 45-year-old woman and 49-year-old man from Blackburn, who were arrested on Friday, have both been released without charge this morning.

A 36-year-old man, also from Blackburn, has been released on police bail.

Mr Fielding was discovered in a ground-floor flat in Limefield Court, off Preston New Road, by a neighbour on Friday morning.

A post-mortem investigation at the weekend revealed he died as a result of serious head injuries which police believe he sustained during a ‘serious and violent attack’.


Watch our video from the scene

Force Major Investigation Team detectives arrived at the scene around 1pm and crime scene investigators could be seen dusting Mr Fielding’s front door for fingerprints.

Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, of Lancashire Police, who is leading the inquiry, said crime scene investigators had continued with their examination of the scene over the weekend.

He said: "We are keen to speak to anybody who knew him well and anybody who saw him between Thursday night and Friday lunchtime."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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