Tribute to 'special' son after street death

Luke Harden was "special to us all", his family said

The family of a man who died on a street in a Lancashire town have said "there are no words to describe how devastated we all are".

Luke Harden, 36, died on Newchurch Road, Bacup, after midnight on Saturday, Lancashire Police said.

Officers have been given more time to question a 26-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, both from the town, whom they arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police criticised the "spread of misinformation" about the suspects, saying: "The male suspect in this case is not an asylum seeker, as has been speculated about online."

Det Con Insp Bryony Midgley said: "I would ask that people do not guess about the cause of Luke's death and for it to be left to medical experts.

"Speculation of this nature causes further distress to Luke's loved ones."

A post-mortem examination to establish the cause of Mr Harden's death took place earlier.

Police asked people not to spread misinformation about Mr Harden's death, which happened on Newchurch Road

In a tribute, Mr Harden's family said: "We wish our Luke could see the outpouring of love from everyone who knows him.

"He is and will always be special to us all, as a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle, boyfriend and friend."

They added they were "comforted knowing we can shut our eyes and your beautiful face will always be smiling back at us".

Police appealed for witnesses or anyone with footage of the area between 23:45 GMT on Friday and 00:35 on Saturday to contact them.

"We also want to hear from anyone who was in the Rosemount Working Men's Club on Friday night," they added.