16-year-old charged with the murder of teaching assistant

A teenager has been charged with the murder of teaching assistant Lindsay Birbeck whose body was found in a cemetery last Saturday.

The mother-of two, 47, had gone missing from her home in Lancashire, on the 12th August.

She was last seen in Huncoat and was found dead at Accrington Cemetery on the 24th August.

A post-mortem examination found that she had been strangled, and reports have suggested that the body was concealed.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, is due to appear at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Lancashire Police confirmed on Tuesday evening they had made an arrest after officially confirming the mother-of-two’s identity earlier the same day.

Detective Superintendent Andy Cribbin, of the force's major investigation team, said: "The response to our earlier appeal has been absolutely overwhelming and I would like to thank everyone who has come forward with information

The discovery of the body an extensive search by hundreds of people.

Her devastated children said the person who killed his mother had robbed her of the chance to become a grandmother.

Her grieving husband said that the sudden death of his wife had "broken" him.

Tim Birbeck, 49, praised police for the 'speedy arrest but added: 'It is horrendous watching our children go through this."

The couple had two children - Stephen, 19 and Sarah, 16.

Steven said: 'I've always cherished the thought of seeing my mum smile.

'The fact that she will never see me and my sister grow up and not going to be there on our wedding days and never see her grandchildren deeply saddens us.”