A 24-YEAR-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of an 80-year-old woman after a burglary.

George Portsmouth, of Varley Street, Colne, was remanded in custody by police tonight to appear at Blackburn Magistrates Court tomorrow.

The 24-year-old man had originally been charged with burglary and grievous bodily harm with intent but the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the charge of murder.

Pensioner Connie French was attacked inside her home in North Street, Colne, during a violent raid on March 27.

She died in hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police said Mrs French suffered severe bruising to her neck during an incident when an alarm pendant was ripped from her.

They said £230 was taken during the burglary.

A post mortem examination was carried out this week to establish the cause of her death.

The case has been reviewed by Lancashire Constabulary’s major incident team and senior investigating officer Det Supt Neil Hunter.

Mrs French, who was a great-grandmother, is believed to have lived alone in the property in the town’s North Valley estate but had family nearby.

Her husband Walter died in October 2010 after a short illness.