DETECTIVES last night charged a man after an incident that resulted in the death of a "loving father" who went to the aid of his injured son.

Lorry driver Lawrence Steel, 44, died from stab wounds he received as he went to assist 23-year-old Craig, who was also badly injured from knife wounds, after an altercation spilled out of the Wrekendyke pub, in Springwell, Gateshead.

Mr Steel, of nearby Aycliffe Crescent, was said to have been acting as a peacemaker in the earlier disturbance in the pub, in Lanchester Avenue.

But he suffered the stab wounds after receiving a phone call informing him his son had been attacked nearby.

Mr Steel was confirmed dead in hospital, where his son, a ducting engineer, was in a stable condition in a high-dependency unit last night.

Police still want to speak to witnesses to the incidents, both inside and outside the Wrekendyke, early on Friday night.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Rob Coulson, who is leading the investigation, said: "Craig Steel has spoken to us and given a full account of the events on Friday evening.

"A number of customers in the pub and other witnesses have also provided more details about what went on, and we thank them for their help in assisting us.

"However, we are keen to speak to others who may have seen what happened inside or outside the pub, at about 7.20pm.

"I can assure people that any information will be treated in strict confidence.

"Understandably, his family are distraught as a result of these tragic events and we would ask that their privacy is respected."

A statement from the Steel family described Lawrence as "an extremely kind, well-liked and hard-working man who has worked all his life to support his family".

It added: "He worked as an HGV driver and was an avid Newcastle United fan.

"He was well-respected and popular, with many friends."

* Last night, police announced that Tony Hedley, 22, of Charlotte Close, Newcastle, had been charged with wounding Craig Steel and will appear before Gateshead magistrates this morning.