A MAN has been charged with the murder of a Chester man in Blackpool.

Stephen Routledge, 24, is accused of stabbing Joshua David Whitley to death at the seaside resort on Friday (July 27).

Routledge, of Station Road, Blackpool, is due to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court this morning (Thursday, August 2) when the case will likely be sent to the crown court.

Mr Whitley, 26, was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital shortly after 10.25pm on Friday but was pronounced dead a short time later.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death to be a single stab wound.

Detective Inspector Mark Dickinson, of Blackpool Police, said: “My thoughts are with Joshua's family at this incredibly tragic time.”

The Blacon community has been paying tribute to Mr Whitley on Facebook and friends have set up a Go Fund Me page aimed at raising £300 to give him a proper send off.

They are also planning to walk from Blacon to Moel-famau in North Wales to raise money.

The fundraising page states: “We are raising money to give Josh the send-off he deserves. Josh was always the first person willing to help people out.

“Even if we don’t reach a target everything helps towards giving Josh an amazing send off. Let’s do him proud guys. Josh loved the outdoors camping, hiking etc so we are going to walk from Blacon to Moel-famau and back again in order to raise some funds.”

To help, visit https://www.gofundme.com/give-josh-the-send-off-he-deserves