Teen charged with murder

A teenager has been charged with murder after a father was knocked down by a car as he walked through Hednesford.

Christopher Hatfield, who was aged 39, died from his injuries at the scene of the collision in Hednesford in the early hours of Saturday.

Today 19-year-old Ashley Lunn, of Sandpiper Close, Hednesford, appeared at Cannock Magistrates Court charged with murder.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Stafford Crown Court on Monday next week.

Mr Hatfield, who had one eight-year-old son, was hit by a green Volkswagen Golf on the Market Street bridge.

Neighbours of Mr Hatfield, who lived in Rigby Drive, today paid tribute to the warehouse worker describing him as "kind, thoughtful and willing to help anyone."

Margaret Baker, aged 65, who lived next door to Mr Hatfield said she was "devastated" to learn of his death adding: "He didn't deserve this to happen to him."

Mrs Baker said: "Chris was part of our family. I have two sons already but he was like a third one to us, we were very close. He was very kind and hard working. He did a lot for people on the street. He had just got his life sorted which is the really sad thing."

She said Mr Hatfield had two cats called Patch and Smudge who he treated as his children and she added: "He loved his garden, just the other day he said how excited he was for spring because he had planted 400 bulbs in his garden."

Roy Burgoyne, aged 64, who lives across the street from Mr Hatfield added: "Chris would do anything for anyone. He was always helping me because I can't always get about very well. He was a very generous person, there are not many people like Chris around these days."

A teenager has been charged with murder after a father was knocked down by a car as he walked through a quiet Staffordshire town.