POLICE have charged a man with the murder of Anthony Whitefield, whose severed arm was found in a lake.

Douglas Binet, 53, of Hanson Drive in Loughton has been charged with the murder of the 47-year-old former minicab driver.

Mr Binet will remain in police custody until his appearance at Harlow Magistrate's tomorrow (April 6).

He was arrested on Friday night and police were granted a warrant to continue questioning him until 9.40pm this evening (Tuesday.)

A severed arm belonging to Mr Whitefield, 47, was found by anglers near a lake off Greensted Road in Loughton on Thursday (March 31).

Police divers found another arm belonging to Mr Whitefield at the lake on Saturday.

The father-of-five, of Bryony Close in Loughton, has not been seen since leaving his partner's house in Loughton on February 8.

District Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, Olivia Gooding, said: “I can confirm the CPS has today made the decision to charge Douglas Binet with murder.

"The CPS and police have been working together from the very early stages of the investigation, in order to ensure there is a case which can be put before a jury with a realistic prospect of conviction."