LANCASHIRE Police have referred their own murder investigation into a dad who was stabbed to death to an independent watchdog.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands that detectives investigating the killing of Neil Ryan, 46, and the attack on his wife Debbie, 41, have established there was previous contact between the force and the family.

Mr Ryan was found dead at the family home in Heys Close, Blackburn, on Friday morning. Mrs Ryan was carried to an ambulance with knife wounds.

The couple’s 18-year-old son Jordan is currently being held under the Mental Health Act.

He was arrested at his grandparents’ house in Rolleston Road, Blackburn, on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

A spokesman for the Independent Police Complaints Commission confirmed that Lancashire Constabulary had referred the case to them.

The spokesman said: “Following an assessment we decided there was no requirement for further IPCC involvement.”

They declined to comment on the details of the decision because of the ongoing investigation.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: “We can confirm that we had previously had contact with the family and so we voluntarily referred this matter to the IPCC.

“The IPCC have made the decision that this does not require their involvement and so this matter will now be looked at internally.

“It would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage due to the ongoing investigation."