A MAN has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-two who was found stabbed to death after a barbecue at the home they shared.

Christopher Lee Waddington, 26, of Moor View, Salterforth, was charged last night and was due to appear before Burnley magistrates' court today.

Ruth Phillips, 29, was found with fatal wounds at the couple's home in Salterforth, near Barnoldswick, when paramedics and police were called to the couple's home in Moor View at 3.30am on Sunday.

A post mortem examination confirmed that Ruth died of multiple stab wounds.

The family have lived in the house for a few weeks and neighbours said Ruth, who has a sister and brother and other relatives in Barnoldswick, was starting to get to know people in the village.

Ruth's youngest daughter Tia celebrated her second birthday on Saturday morning before friends and family enjoyed a barbecue and party in the afternoon and into the evening.

Before the incident, Tia's sister Abey Waddington, four, was expected to start school at Coates Lane primary school, Barnoldswick, today.

Neighbours said the couple had only moved to Salterforth from Barnoldswick during the local July holiday fortnight.