A murder investigation has been launched after an elderly man was found dead with suspected shotgun injuries in a field in rural Lancashire.
The 75-year-old man was pronounced dead at the farm on Pinfold Lane in Scarisbrick after police were called shortly before 5pm yesterday.
A 29-year-old man – said by police to be known to the victim – is today being questioned on suspicion of murder.
Detectives said they weren’t looking for anyone else in connection with what they described as an ‘isolated incident’.
‘This has sent shockwaves through the community,’ one local said today.
A murder investigation has been launched after an elderly man was found dead with suspected shotgun injuries in a field in rural Lancashire
Aerial view showing farmhouse (bottom left) and the tractor where a body was found (circled)
Police in the field scan the scene in a Lancashire field
Police and scientific support officers were at the scene today
A shotgun was recovered from the scene, with forensics teams in white suits seen combing the field today
One neighbour said the shot farmer – named locally as Tom – had been killed while sitting on his vintage tractor.
Marsh Hey Farm and a neighbouring converted barn were both under police guard today.
An officer said both were being ‘treated as crime scenes.’
One neighbour who knows the family said: ‘It is incredibly sad.
‘I have been told Tom was shot sat on his tractor.
‘It was an old machine, everything around the farm was old.
‘I think they were struggling a bit. Farming is a very hard game these days.
‘I always thought Tom looked very downtrodden. He looked as if he was carrying the weight of the world around with him.
‘It is such a tragedy especially in a rural area like this. A real tragedy.’
A 29-year-old man – said by police to be known to the victim – is today being questioned on suspicion of murder
The farmhouse, which has been sealed off next to the field
Det Chief Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police Force’s Major Investigation Team, said: ‘A man has very sadly lost his life as a result of this, and we have a dedicated team of officers working to establish what led to his death
Another described the family as ‘very reserved’.
‘We heard the air ambulance land somewhere near the farm,’ the neighbour said.
‘We don’t know much about the people who live there, they’re very closed off and keep themselves to themselves. It’s so sad.’
Another described them as ‘closed off, typical farmers’.
Officers swamped the area after receiving a report of a firearms discharge, Lancashire Police said this morning.
They found that a 75-year-old man had suffered a suspected gunshot injury.
An air ambulance was seen landing in a nearby field, but despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A shotgun was recovered from the scene, with forensics teams in white suits seen combing the field today.
Detectives said they weren’t looking for anyone else in connection with what they described as an ‘isolated incident’
Officers swamped the area after receiving a report of a firearms discharge, Lancashire Police said this morning
An air ambulance was seen landing in a nearby field, but despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene
A 29-year-old man from Scarisbrick has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody
Det Chief Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police Force’s Major Investigation Team, said: ‘A man has very sadly lost his life as a result of this, and we have a dedicated team of officers working to establish what led to his death.
‘We know that this news may sound concerning to the Scarisbrick community, but we want to reassure everyone that it is being treated as an isolated incident.
‘Both parties are known to each other, and we aren’t looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
‘This is where I now appeal to you, the public, to ask that if you have any information, saw or heard anything suspicious or have dashcam footage from the Pinfold Lane area of Scarisbrick yesterday between 12pm and 5:30pm, to please get in contact.’
A 29-year-old man from Scarisbrick has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
