People have been left puzzled after a mystery man set up a motorhome under a bridge, and made himself comfortable by moving several fixtures and fittings - including a weights machine and a funeral hearse - onto the site.

The man, who is thought to have previously been living on a piece of land in Lower Darwen, has been residing in his motorhome under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services for several months, according to residents.

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why hes chosen that precise location

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why he's chosen that precise location

And people living in the area are now puzzled as to what he is actually doing there, after he began adding to the site, parking a BMW and a hearse at the side of the road (with a sign in the window which reads 'Darwen needs you'); and setting-up other random items such as a wheelchair, a child's bike, a table made out of an old beer keg, a makeshift tool den, a weights machine, a heart shaped welcome mat placed at the base of the steps to the motorhome, and a mannequin in the shape of a man's torso.

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why hes chosen that precise location

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why he's chosen that precise location

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "The motorhome has been there for months, it's taken up almost the whole side of the pavement underneath the bridge.

"It's annoying as a lot of people use that bridge for car sharing.

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why hes chosen that precise location

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why he's chosen that precise location

"I think someone has been dropping off scrap metal and all sorts for him, it looks like a tip - not exactly the first thing you want to see when coming into Darwen.

"I would've thought the police or someone would have moved him on by now, but no-one seems to be bothered."

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why hes chosen that precise location

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why he's chosen that precise location

Blackburn with Darwen Councillor, Cllr Dave Smith, said public protection had been informed but as it stands it did not appear that the man was breaking any laws.

He said: "It's believed he was living on a piece of land in Lower Darwen but he seems to have moved under the bridge for some reason.

"Highways have said it is nothing to do with them as it's a pavement so is a matter for the council - but it's not exactly a pavement really.

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why hes chosen that precise location

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why he's chosen that precise location

"Public protection have been informed anyway and they are dealing with it now, but if he's not breaking any laws then there's not much we can do to be honest."

The Lancashire Telegraph went to see if they could speak with the mystery man but when they arrived there was no-one home.

He had left a phone number in the windscreen of his motorhome though, but on closer inspection, it appeared to be a digit short.

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why hes chosen that precise location

A mystery man has set up home under the motorway bridge at Darwen Services, leaving residents puzzled about why he's chosen that precise location