A 17-YEAR-OLD boy from Chelmsford has been charged with the murder of Ashley Woolley, who was found stabbed in Oaklands Park on Thursday afternoon.

The boy was also charged with threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place. He has been remanded in youth custody and will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, December 22.

A 19-year-old man from Maldon who was also arrested in connection with the investigation has now been released from custody without charge.

Police were called to the park at 3.15pm on Thursday where Ashley, 18, was found stabbed.

He was taken by ambulance to Chelmsford’s Broomfield Hospital where he later died. A murder investigation was launched by detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate and the two arrests were made in the early hours of Friday.

Heart breaking tributes have been left to Ashley online, and flowers and candles have been left at the entrance to the park.

Several Facebook tribute pages have been set up in his memory and one, RIP Ashley Woolley X, has already had more than 1,200 “likes”.

A message posted by the creator of the page said: “Positive memories are what we need at this incredibly sad time.

“Let's celebrate what a great life he lived, although it was short lived I think a lot of people can agree that he made a difference to so many people’s lives and for that we will be eternally grateful x.”