Police have charged a Frenchman with murder following the death of British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung in Australia.

The 29-year-old man has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault, police said.

Queensland police previously confirmed the man they had arrested was Smail Ayad, a 29-year-old Frenchman.

Miss Ayliffe-Chung was attacked at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland on Tuesday night.

The 21-year-old, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was just days into a three-month stint working on a farm in rural Australia.

A 30-year-old man police named as Tom Jackson remains in hospital with critical head injuries.

While a 46-year-old man also received non-life threatening injuries.

Police said the man charged would appear at Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday.