A man has been charged with the murder of Pc Dave Phillips, who was killed while trying to stop burglars in a stolen Mitsubishi pick-up truck in Wallasey, in the early hours of Monday, Merseyside Police said tonight.

Clayton Ronald Williams, 18, of Wheatland Lane, Wallasey, is also charged with attempted section 18 wounding against Pc Birkett, burglary and aggravated unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle.

A second man, Phillip Stuart, 30, of Mayfair Court, Oxton, has been charged with aggravated unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle and burglary

They will both appear at Wirral Magistrates Court tomorrow.

The 34-year-old officer was killed following a burglary at a sales and letting agency in nearby Birkenhead in which a Mitsubishi pick-up was stolen.

A 40-minute pursuit followed before Pc Phillips and a colleague attempted to use a "stinger" device to stop the Mitsubishi Challenger L200.

Pc Phillips "didn't stand a chance" as the vehicle mounted a central reservation and headed directly at the officer before speeding off.

Earlier today Pc Phillips' widow and two young daughters laid flowers at the scene where he was mown down and killed.

Jen Phillips, 28, and her children Abi, seven, and Sophie, three, visited Dock Road in Wallasey to lay lilies at the site which was already a mass of floral tributes.

The charges come after Merseyside Police made four further arrests in connection with the officer's murder.

Pc Phillips had been given CPR by colleagues at the scene but died a short time later at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.

Earlier a candlelit vigil was held to remember the Merseyside police officer.

Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to Pc Phillips at New Brighton's Fort Perch Rock, Wirral.

A minute's silence was also held for the fallen officer and balloons were released into the night sky.

Those who had gathered erupted in applause in memory of the fallen officer.

The event had been publicised on Facebook.

An administrator wrote: "Sky is looking beautifully blue, wind has died down, is looking like a good night to shine bright, will have a poem read out while we light our candles and then a minutes silence for Pc David Phillips, let's light up to show our support and remember a true hero taken too soon and for all our wonderful officers who protect us day in day out."

A memorial fund set up by the Merseyside Police Federation stands at almost £79,000 and looks set to exceed its target of £100,000.

The Just Giving page read: "Constable Dave Phillips was tragically and unlawfully killed whilst on duty on October 5 2015.

"He was simply doing his job."

On Thursday a Book of Condolence is to be opened at Liverpool Town Hall for people to add messages of sympathy.

Lord Mayor Tony Concepcion said: "Police officers work every single day to keep each and every one of us safe, and his death is a sad reminder of the risks that they face when they are on duty."