NO charges will be brought as a result of the death of a Blackburn Rovers supporter during last month’s match against Stoke City, it has been revealed.

The Crown Prosecution Service said there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to prosecute anybody in relation to the death of John Steven Taylor.

But Mr Taylor’s family said the decision had left them ‘gutted’.

Football fans from across the country have paid tribute to the 30-year-old, who died in hospital after apparently being hit by a bin in the concourse of Stoke’s Britannia Stadium just after half- time on Saturday, February 6.

As the body of the father-of-one, of Avallon Way, was set to be finally returned to his home town yesterday, his family spoke of their disappointment at the outcome of the investigation.

Mr Taylor’s mother, Susan, of Lisbon Drive, Darwen, said: “We are all gutted that nobody has been charged with anything.

“They have not brought any charges, but have still kept my lad down there for three weeks.”

But she said she was happy her son’s body was finally to be released by the coroner, allowing the family to begin preparations for his funeral. She said: “The main thing is John’s coming home at last, and that’s a relief. We can finally put him to rest.”

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “After very careful consideration of all the evidence available we have concluded there is insufficient evidence to advance a prosec-ution, where there would be a realistic prospect of conviction.”

A Staffordshire Police spokesman confirmed the force would taking ‘no further action’, and was preparing a file for the coroner to consider at the inquest into Mr Taylor’s death.