A man has been charged with the murder of a missing woman after human remains were found in a storage unit.

Annette Smith was 74 when she went missing from her home in West Wing in Fairfield Hall, near Stotfold, around November 11 last year.

Police officers discovered the human remains in Letchworth on Tuesday, April 30. Ms Smith's next of kin have been informed, and formal identification has not yet taken place.

Scott Paterson, 44, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and taken into police custody for questioning.

Paterson has been remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court today (Thursday, May 2).

Det Insp Katie Dounias said: "This is clearly a distressing time for Annette's friends, family and all those from the tight close-knit community she was from.

"Our thoughts are with them at this time and we have specialist officers supporting her loved ones.

"We are continuing to carry out extensive inquiries in relation to this complex investigation and we would urge anyone with information to come forward."