The 29-year-old man accused of murdering a young mum in her Carlisle home has appeared in court.

Miklos Verebes has also been charged with three historical allegations of raping the same woman, 33-year-old pizza shop worker Melinda Korosi.

Police found the mum-of-two - in a critical condition - inside her Orton Road home just after 6am last Thursday. Despite the efforts to save her, she died a short time later.

At the city's Rickergate courts complex today, Verebes, of Orton Road, Carlisle stood silently in the dock, flanked by two dock officers, as the allegations were formally put to him by the court clerk Fred Walker.

The first was that he murdered Melinda Korosi on Thursday of last week.

The clerk then put to him the remainig three additional charges - that he raped Miss Korosi on dates between October 2012 and July 2016.

The defendant, dressed in a grey t-shirt, spoke only to give his name, date of birth and to confirm he understood the charges he faces.

District judge Gerald Chalk ruled that the case should be sent to Carlisle Crown Court.

A hearing date was set for tomorrow and Verebes was remanded in custody until that day.

There was no application for bail.

Miss Korosi's shocked neighbours last week spoke of their distress at her death in such dreadful circumstances, describing her a polite and friendly woman who always spoke when she saw them in the street.

She worked at the London Road branch of Domino's Pizza in Carlisle, and they often saw her as she set off for her shift.

One neighbour said she was a "a lovely woman".

A native of Hungary, Miss Korosi had moved to her end-terraced home in Orton Road about a year ago.

Police confirmed on Friday last week that they had managed to trace Miss Korosi's parents abroad and give them the heartbreaking news of her death. They are understood to live in Hungary.