A PIZZA chef has been charged with murder after the man he was accused of assaulting died.

Damien Fiocca, 18, of no fixed address, was due to appear before Blackburn Magistrates today to face the upgraded charge.

Andrew Rawes, 29, formerly of Burnley Road, Blackburn, was found lying near a telephone box in Pringle Street, Audley, with serious head injuries in the early hours of October 14.

He died in Queen's Park Hospital six weeks later.

Fiocca was initially charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and remanded in custody.

But following Mr Rawes' death, detectives and the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the case and decided to charge Fiocca with murder.

Det Insp Jim Elston said Fiocca was produced from custody yesterday and charged at Greenbank Police Station in Whitebirk.