Chemical alert after man’s body found in Pendle village

Police discovered the body of a missing 51-year-old Burnley man in a car in Barley early this morning.

But fears over dangerous chemicals forced officers to call in specialist hazardous materials fire teams to the scene in Barley New Road.

Nine firefighters in protective gear helped recover the man’s body from the vehicle at 12-20am this morning.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious but the East Lancashire Coroner has been informed.

Fears had grown for the man after he failed to return home from work on Thursday and police launched a search.

Officers spotted the man’s car in Barley New Road around midnight and found a body inside.

The area was cordoned off while the emergency services dealt with the incident.