Police investigating the death of Lee Dawson in Preston have charged another man with his murder.

This brings it to a total four people who have been charged with the murder of the 42-year-old, while one person has been charged with assisting an offender.

Six others have been arrested in connection with the investigation and bailed pending further enquiries.

The latest to be charged is Robert Cross, 33, of Milner Street in Preston. He is due to appear before Preston Magistrates’ Court this morning (Friday, June 24).

The others charged with Mr Dawson’s murder are Stuart Brown, 36, of Dawson Walk, Preston, who is due to appear at Preston Crown Court tomorrow, Andrew Wilcock, 29, of Lincoln Walk, Preston and Benjamin Bibby, 20, of Dawson Walk, Preston, who both appeared at Preston Crown Court on Thursday.

Kerry-Ann Metcalfe, 38, of Dawson Walk, Preston, is charged with assisting an offender. She appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and has been remanded until July.

Police were called at around 3am last Friday by the Ambulance Service after 42-year-old Lee Dawson was found with stab wounds in Jutland Street.

Mr Dawson - originally from Preston but living in Sunderland - was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment but later died and a murder investigation was launched.

A Home Office post-mortem examination showed Mr Dawson died as a result of stab wounds.

Det Chief Insp Mark Haworth-Oates, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “We have now charged a total of four people with Mr Dawson’s murder, a further person with assisting an offender and we have arrested and bailed a number of others.

"I am grateful for all the assistance we have received during the course of our enquiries this week and I would continue to appeal to anyone with information to get in touch.

"My thoughts of course remain with all of Mr Dawson’s loved ones at this time.”