Mr Terry Hosker (25) was found by his mum, Mrs Gail Hosker, at a stranger's home across the road from her home in Warwick Drive, Padiham, on January 14th.

His funeral took place on what would have been his 26th birthday and Mrs Hosker said everybody was still "distraught" and were appealing for people to help police solve the mystery of his death.

"It came completely out of the blue but I know Terry would not have killed himself," she said. "He didn't believe in suicide. He was doing good and had been really happy lately. He had even paid for a tattoo he was going to get on the Monday of his death."

The last time Mrs Hosker saw her son alive was as he walked past her home, where he had been living, the night before his death. "I shouted after him but he wasn't listening so I just let him carry on walking," she said. "Terry had been living here with me and there is no reason why he would have been across the road at that house. None of the family understand it."

Born in Padiham, Mr Hosker went to school in Accrington when his family moved there. He returned to live in Padiham when he got a flat in Green Lane before moving in with his mum.

His cousin, Mr Daniel Hosker, said Terry had been like a brother and would have done anything for anyone.

"He was a lovely lad," he said. "Nobody had a bad word to say about Terry. Everybody liked him. We had been going to the gym together three times a week and he was as happy as anyone. He was definitely not suicidal. He never suffered from depression and if he had had any problems then he would have come and talked to me about them."

The family are waiting for the inquest into Terry's death which is due at the end of April.

Mrs Hosker said: "We just want the truth to come out about what happened to Terry. He was my only child and meant the absolute world to me. If anybody has any information that could be used to help with the inquest I would urge them to ring Burnley police as soon as possible."