A man accused of murdering a woman in Blackburn at the weekend is set to stand trial in summer.

Anthony Stinson, 31, of Queen Victoria Street, Blackburn, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday (March 8) charged with murdering Charlotte Wilcock.

Stinson, who appeared via video link from HMP Preston, did not enter a plea at the hearing and was not arraigned on the charge of murder.

It is expected a psychiatric report will be prepared and Stinson is expected to enter a formal plea at a later plea and trial preparation hearing.

A provisional trial date of five days has been set for August 21. 

READ MORE: Charlotte Wilcock's family pay tribute 'their world'

Police were were called at around 7.55am to reports an assault had occurred on the evening of Friday (March 3) in Mill Hill.

A short time later the body of a woman was found at an address in Primrose Terrace.

An investigation was launched and a man, aged 30, from Blackburn was arrested on suspicion of murder.

On Sunday, Anthony Stinson, 30, of Queen Victoria Street, Blackburn, was charged with murder.

He made his first court appearance at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on Monday, where brief details of the case were heard, including the nature of Miss Wilcock's injuries.

Three more men, aged 32 and 24 from Blackburn, and aged 31 from Clitheroe, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and have since been released under investigation.

Lancashire Police also disclosed it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in relation to the incident.

Yesterday, floral tributes could be seen outside the property in Primrose Terrace where Miss Wilcock's body was discovered.

DCI Jill Johnston, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “First and foremost our thoughts are with Charlotte’s family, and we ask that their privacy be respected at this truly distressing and difficult time.

“A call came in to us on Saturday reporting an assault in the Mill Hill area and we found Charlotte’s body inside the address on Primrose Terrace a short time later.

"A man was arrested on suspicion of murder and an investigation launched to find out exactly what occurred.

“A man has now been charged with causing Charlotte’s death, however our investigation is very much ongoing and we ask anybody who may have information to get in touch."

If you have any information which could assist the police's investigation, you are asked to call 101, quoting log 336 of March 4.

Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.