The boyfriend of Tia Sharp’s grandmother has been charged with murdering the 12-year-old.

Stuart Hazell, 37, will appear before magistrates on Monday, August 13.

Tia, of Lancaster Avenue, Mitcham, was reported missing on August 3, having last been seen at the home of her grandmother Christine Sharp, 46, in The Lindens, New Addington.

On Friday, police found a body at Mrs Sharp’s house. Although the body has not yet been formally identified, the victim is named in the murder charge as Tia.

Two other people arrested in connection with the investigation have been released on bail to return to a south London police station.

They are believed to be Mrs Sharp, who was being held on suspicion of murder, and her next door neighbour Paul Meehan, 39, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

A post-mortem began on the schoolgirl’s body yesterday at Croydon Mortuary, and is due to be completed later today.