Cassie Hayes: Andrew Burke charged with murder of Southport travel agent

The 28-year-old allegedly had her throat slashed at the Tui travel agents where she worked

28-year-old Cassie Hayes died in hospital after reportedly having her throat slashed (Twitter)

Andrew Burke has been charged with the murder of Southport travel agent Cassie Hayes who was attacked in the branch where she worked.

The 30-year-old will appear from custody at South Sefton Magistrates' Court in Bootle on Monday.

Ms Hayes, 28, died in hospital from a wound to her throat inflicted on Saturday afternoon at the Tui branch in Southport where she was assistant manager on Saturday.

Merseyside Police said they were called to the scene at the store in the town centre at around 1:25pm after witnesses reported seeing a woman being stretchered onto a waiting ambulance.

Ms Hayes, who lived in the Southport area, later died in hospital from her injuries.

In a statement released by police, Ms Hayes said: "Our whole lives have been shattered.

"This has torn our hearts from our bodies.

"Cassie was an amazing, kind human being who would do anything for anyone.

"She doted on all her family and our loss is beyond calculation.

"We ask that our family be left to grieve in private."

Colleagues and friends of the mother-of-one were among those who paid tribute to her online and laid flowers outside the scene in Chapel Street which remained behind a police cordon on Sunday evening.

Ms Hayes' ex-partner, Leah McDonald, wrote on Facebook: "What can I say. This girl was and has been my absolute world from the first moment we met on the 4th July 2007 till this very day.

"We had are fall outs, our ups and downs but I can tell you now despite all that we absolutely loved each other and out of all the people in the world I could not of picked a better mammy for our child.

"She's just a gem, my best mate, Even when we split she was there for me ... this girl has been my rock and the most amazing mammy.

"I am heart broken and numb. How anyone could do this to my Cassie."

A Tui spokeswoman said: "We send our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of the staff member involved.

"We're doing everything possible to assist the local police with their investigation and support our customers and staff at this difficult time."

Additional reporting by agencies