A MAN has tonight been charged with murdering a pensioner.

Keith Stephen Lockhart, 47, of Eslington Court, Gateshead, will appear before Gateshead Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning accused of the murder of 67-year-old William Mackereth at the flats.

Mr Mackereth, also of Eslington Court, who was known as Billy by family and friends, was taken to hospital with multiple injuries in the early hours of Tuesday, and later died.