Man charged with murder five months after pensioner, 74, vanished as human remains are found in storage unit

A MAN has been charged with murder five months after a pensioner vanished - with human remains found in a storage unit.

Annette Smith, 74, from Stotfold in Bedfordshire, went missing around November last year.

Cops said human remains have now been found in a storage unit in the Hertfordshire town of Letchworth.

Scott Paterson, 44, of no fixed address, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with Annette's disappearance.

Yesterday Paterson was charged with Annette's murder and was remanded in custody.

He will appear at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Bedfordshire Police said.

Formal identification has not taken place but Annette's next of kin have been informed by police.

DI 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."

DI Dounias added: "We would urge anyone with information to come forward."

Cops first appealed for information about Annette's whereabouts on April 15.

Five days later, detectives upgraded their missing-person probe to a murder inquiry.