A MAN is due to appear in court today charged with arson and assault following an incident in Darwen over the weekend.

Paul Howarth, 52, of Coulthurst Gardens, Darwen, was arrested following a fire at an address on Coulthurst Gardens in the early hours of Saturday.

Howarth has been charged with arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and assault.

He is due to appear at Blackburn Magistrates Court today.