A MURDER investigation is underway after the ‘heavily bloodstained’ body of a man was found at a house in Pendle last night.

Police said they discovered the body of the man in his 40s after being called to the home in Portland Street, Colne.

The victim has been named as Steven Sheppard, who lived in the nearby village of Winewall.

Officers said the body was so heavily bloodstained that they were unable to confirm his identity.

Tonight a post-mortem examination revealed Mr Sheppard died of multiple head and chest injuries.

A man and woman from Colne, aged 40 and 49, and a 34-year-old woman from Padiham were arrested on suspicion of murder and were last night being questioned by police.

Today, a section of Portland Street was cordoned off as crime scene investigators and a Home Office pathologist spent hours working at the mid-terrace house.

The body was discovered at around 7.15pm on Monday.

Neighbours said a couple had lived at the property for a number of years.

A van, understood to have belonged to Mr Sheppard, was parked outside the house, where it is thought he had been drinking with the couple.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Gray said: “I have a team of detectives working to establish exactly how and why this man has died.

“We found a heavily bloodstained body and because of that it has been difficult to determine the precise nature of his injuries.

“If anybody has any information which they believe could help with our inquiries I would ask them to contact police.

“In particular, if anybody has noticed anything out of place or unusual in the Portland Street area over the past couple of days then I would also like to hear from them.”

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 08451 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Comments unavailable on this story for legal reasons.