Man found dead was model ‘loved by everyone’

A man whose unexplained death has prompted a murder investigation was a “respected” model who was “loved by everyone who met him” the agency he worked for said.

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

A post mortem examination was due to take place on Sunday but the force has not released the results as yet and urged people to avoid speculation.

Manchester-based Nemesis Model Agency said it was “with great sadness that we must announce the untimely death of one of our favourite models Luke Harden”.

In a post on Facebook, the agency added: “Luke had been a model with Nemesis since 2013 and was respected by everyone who worked with him.”

Mr Harden’s family have said “there are no words to describe how devastated we all are”.

“We wish our Luke could see the outpouring of love from everyone who knows him,” the family said in a tribute released on Sunday.

“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”.

Officers have been given more time to question a man, 26, and a woman, 27 both from Bacup, on suspicion of murder.

Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with relevant footage of the area between 23:45 on Friday and 00:35 GMT on Saturday to contact them, along with anyone who was in the Rosemount Working Men’s Club.